



















"■ 


























* 




V- ’) ■;■ ! 


















, . «•», 






.1 . ■> 













































































. 






■ 





















Guide for application of Cling-Surface 
to different kinds of belts 


Too much Cling-Surface at one time causes temporary slip or may even 
make a belt leave the pulleys under heavy load. The stain produced by 
Cling-Surface on the pulleys tells when enough has been applied, and a little 
experience in this regard will enable the user to judge correctly at sight. The 
stains indicated below should not be exceeded, and new belts should have 
even lighter treatment. More explicit directions for belts running under 
unusual conditions may be found by referring to the index, pages 92 and 93. 


For leather (except chromes ), plain 
unpainted canvas or cotton , camel 
hair and other porous belts , and ropes. 


For painted cotton ( Gandy , Levia- 
than, Teon, etc.) and other compara¬ 
tively non-porous belts and for chrome 
and orange tanned leather. 


For rubber , rawhide and balata 
belts. The stain should be just visible 
on the pulley face. Also for any 
kind of belts in dusty surroundings. 
(See page 48.) 






THE BELT BOOK 


A Treatise on the Scientific Care 
of Transmission Belts and Ropes 
for Service and Profit 


Price $1.00 


Sixth Edition 

Copyrighted 1916 by Cling-Surface Co. 


Completely rewritten by 
A. EUGENE MICHEL M S 
Assoc, Am Soc M E 


CLING-SURFACE COMPANY 

1032-1048 Niagara Street 
Buffalo N Y U S A 








M OST literature on belts and belt management is based 
upon the old practice of running belts tight, which 
has been upset by the new practice, made possible 
by Cling-Surface treatment and now so common, of running 
belts slack. 

This little book is therefore filled with simple information 
about the slack belt and about efficient everyday belt manage¬ 
ment, in the hope that the practical man will be stimulated 
to give the subject the serious attention which it deserves. 

Our unique experience, through the sale of Cling-Surface 
during the past twenty years direct to thousands of belt 
users all over the world, fits us peculiarly well to deal with belt 
problems. We believe we have given in this book more good 
hints on overcoming belt troubles and losses than can be found 
in any other publication. 

The mere selling of Cling-Surface seems to us to be of even 
less importance than the securing by our customers of maxi¬ 
mum benefits after purchase. It is therefore our wish and 
hope that all following references to Cling-Surface be carefully 
studied. We will gladly offer further advice upon application 
concerning any belt problems not treated in this book, or con¬ 
cerning any belt matters about which we have not made our¬ 
selves sufficiently clear. Inquiries, preferably accompanied 
by complete data, will receive prompt attention. Read our 
Guarantee on page 3 of this book. 

Cling-Surface Co 


The author hereby acknowledges his indebtedness to Air. Robert Thurston 
Kent for numerous quotations from his series of articles on Scientific Belt 
Management , and to Power , The Practical Engineer , The National Engineer, 
Southern Engineer , American Machinist and Machinery for abstracts from 
various articles that have appeared in their columns. 


The photographic illustrations in this book 

are absolutely truthful. None has been “doctored” in the engraving 
process to misrepresent conditions. 

All accompanying data, too, are based upon documentary evidence 
in our office and subject to inspection. 


That belts work as shown and stated is certainly 
conclusive evidence that the theory of slack running 
is correct. 


2(5 





The Belt Book 



Our Guarantee 

We guarantee that Cling-Surface treatment , used in 
accordance with our directions , will make and keep 
leather , cotton and hair belts and all ropes pliable , 
elastic , waterproof , preserved; that properly used 

it will not harm good rubber or balata belts and that 
it will stop slipping of all belts and ropes so that the 
belts or ropes can be run easy or slack under full loads 
and with increased transmission capacity. 

We further guarantee Cling-Surface to contain no 
rosin or other harmful products. 

If after a fair test in connection with one or more 
belts or ropes , the results of Cling-Surface treatment 
are not in accordance with the above statements , any 
Cling-Surface purchased in the United States or Canada 
from us for such test may be returned within 60 days 
without payment for the Cling-Surface used or that 
returned or for freight either way. 

If any difficulty whatever is experienced or Cling- 
Surface does not seem in every way to be what we claim , 
we ask only a fair chance to make good. Tell us the 
conditions explicitly; we are both looking for success 
and the Cling-Surface Company wants no money unless 
the customer is satisfied. 

Cling-Surface Company 






Cling-Surface Co 




Both driveR 'pulleys, 20-foot diameter, 62 revolutions per minute. Both driveN pul¬ 
leys, 31-inch diameter. Distances between shaft centers 45 and 35 feet. Belt speeds, 

3S90 feet per minute. 


Two 40-inch double leather belts that have been treated with Cling 
Surface since 1899 , Broadhead Worsted Mills , Jamestown , N.Y. 
Under full load , 1000 horse power for both belts , the sag of the longer 
is over 48 inches while that of the shorter is over 22 inches. Both 
belts are clean , pliable and giving the best of service. 

4 














» The Belt 

Scientific belt management 
—its importance and what it includes 

Manufacturers who spend money freely and exercise greatest care with 
engines and operating machinery frequently overlook the importance of 
proper supervision for the transmission belts anu ropes. The cost of the 
materials and labor for the repair of belts which have slipped or broken is the 
least part of the expense in connection with belt failures. The failure of a 
belt means the shutting down of one machine, in the case of a belt to or from 
a countershaft, or the shutting down of a group of n,?chines or the entire 
shop in the case of an important belt driving a section of lint shafting. Thus 
at least one, and possibly fifty or more workmen are paid for doing nothing 
during the ten minutes to one hour while the belt is being repaired or re¬ 
tightened. And it is usually during a rush, when the best belt service is 
essential, that such trouble occurs. The time of the men, moreover, is too 
often an insignificant part of the loss sustained. The value of the machine 
as a producer may be and often is far in excess of the value of the time of the 
man who runs it, and every minute that it is unnecessarily idle costs the plant 
real money. The care of belts is one of the fundamental features of Scientific 
Management. 

A splendid example of this is found in machine shops. In attempting 
to bring the speeds of machines to a point advantageous with modern high¬ 
speed tool steels, it was and is a common experience for foremen and super¬ 
intendents to find the belt slipping, and the lacing or the belt itself breaking 
before the desired speed is attained. Furthermore, from the antipathy of 
the man at tbe machine to bother himself any more than is necessary with a 
belt, and due also to his probable ignorance of the requisites of good belting 
practice^ it is almost hopeless to expect belts to do their maximum work if 
left to the care of the man whose machine they drive. 

The belt when left to the care of the machinist is, under ordinary 
handling, usually run much too loose to do good work. A deep cut 
or a heavy feed, either of which may be well within the capacity of the 
machine, usually will cause the belt to slip. Instead of putting the belt 
into better condition the natural thing for the workman to do is to reduce 
his feed or speed, or to take a lighter cut, or tighten the belt. The belt 
may then do the work, but the capacity of the machine is seriously 
reduced. Or instead, the man, in his ignorance, may apply rosin to the 
belt. This is the most harmful thing which can be done and should never 
be allowed. Rosin offers one of the quickest and surest routes to belt 
destruction. Another trick often seen in shops without systematic care of 
the belts is that of running the belt on steps of cone pulleys which are not in 
alignment. This is a “lazy man’s device” which should not be tolerated for 
an instant, as the belt will soon twist and separate at the edges, and become 
ruined in a short time. The man at the machine, furthermore, is apt not to 
cut the ends of his belt square when he laces them, and the belt soon runs 
crooked on the pulleys. 

Insurance against direct financial loss in any large plant demands that 
the power transmission system be placed in charge of one or more good men 

S 




Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley , 6-foot diameter , 75 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley , 3-foot 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 20 feet. Belt speedy 14-10 feet per minute. 


A 20-inch 3-ply leather belt where Cling-Surface treatment ren¬ 
dered the use of a tightener unnecessary in the transmission of 
100-horse-power load. J. S. Haggerty Brick Co ., Detroit , Mich. 
Picture taken in April , 1903. See picture on opposite page. 


who are responsible for results. The belt problem is one not to be left to a 
“fixer,” but should be studied by the superintendent, after which the belt- 
fixer can work under direction of superintendent or lesser official. Men 
authorized to keep their eyes open for power losses, etc., can take engine and 
shafting speeds at frequent intervals, record the data, figure and reduce the 
friction load, record lacings used and other vital expense items. They soon 
appreciate the advantage of applying the real remedy early and become 
interested and expert in all matters which affect the quantity and quality of 
power output and the expense of operation. Thorough system and locali¬ 
zation of responsibility in this regard invariably saves money and assures the 
best belt service constantly. 


6 








The Belt Book 



Same belt as shown on opposite page , but photo taken nine years 
later (1912). During all this time the same engineer and same 
superintendent were in charge and the same Cling-Surface 
treatment was applied constantly. The same Cling-Surface sales¬ 
man also appears in this picture. The tightener still hangs 
in the air and has not been used once* The belt is in better 
condition than ever and runs with greater slack due to the increased 
load applied with the corresponding increase in size of the plant. 


To sum up: 

Systematic belt management coupled with carefully designed drives will 
minimize belt failures and stoppage of machines, will promote a constantly 
efficient transmission system, will do much toward conservation of power, 
and will assure an ultimate economy not otherwise obtainable. The latter, 
of course, includes increased belt life and reduced maintenance. 

These features are accomplished by: 

(1). Having all belts systematically inspected and repaired at definitely 
predetermined intervals, so that slippages and breakages are anticipated and 
prevented. 

*Still true in 1916. 


7 










Cling-Surface Go 


(2) . The maintenance of proper working conditions in the belt, so that 
it is able at all times to pull without slipping the heaviest load that should 
be imposed on it. 

(3) . By having the belts of such dimensions that the total load on them 
under the most severe service is well within safe limits, and with all lacing 
and splices properly made. 

In his paper, “Notes on Belting,” Mr. F. W. Taylor states that the total 
life of belting, the cost of maintenance and repairs, and the interruptions to 
manufacture are dependent chiefly on: 

(1). The “total load” to which they are subjected; that is, the total 
stress per inch of width or per square inch of section on the tight side of 
the belt while in motion. 



Drive R and driveN pulleys, 4-foot diameter, 345 revolutions per minute. Distance 
between shaft centers, 21 feet. Belt speed, 4330 feet per minute. 

A good example of benefits from intelligent use of Cling-Surface. 
The 14-inch double leather belt transmitting from a water wheel 
in the plant of the Ludlow (Ft.) Electric Light fc? Power Plant , 
sags 18 inches with 80-horse-power load and transmits 125 horse 
power with sag of 22 inches during peak periods. Cling-Surface 
treatment was started here in 1901 , and at an average cost of 23 
cents per year for the Cling-Surface this belt has given perfect 
service foi fifteen years and is now in perfect condition . 

8 









The Belt Book — 

(2) . Whether the belts are spliced or fastened with lacing or belt 
hooks. 

(3) . The speed at which they are run. 

(4) . Whether properly preserved and kept free from machinery oil. 

These matters are all thoroughly discussed in the following pages. 

Preservative treatment a first essential 
to any transmission belt or rope 

Transmission belts and ropes, regardless of classification, are all animal 
or vegetable matter, which may be allowed to perish quickly in service or 
can be preserved in health and vigor throughout a long and useful life. 

Belts and ropes are of course supposed to be turned out by their makers 
in the best possible condition, yet mere animal or vegetable tissue cannot be 
expected to carry unaided a tremendous load, often run at the speed of a 
locomotive, be bent back and forth hundreds of times per minute and sub¬ 
jected to all sorts of temperature, moisture, weather and other conditions. 
In any service there must be friction within, due to the rubbing of the fibers 
against each other, and this friction in turn produces heat. The heating effect 
is further often intensified by hot dry surrounding air and always, where 
slip is present, by the rubbing under pressure of the belt or rope against the 
pulley or sheave faces. It is only reasonable therefore that the soft surface 
material and the natural oily ingredients will dry or burn out and that the 
ingredients consumed must be replaced by some equivalent. Leather and 
vegetable fiber must be nourished and protected from wear and tear or must 
die before its time, just the same as a human being. No belt can stand up to 
tremendous physical work for months, with no help, without showing the 



Typical Cling-Surface-treated belt. Pliable , waterproof and no 
slip. Fair slack to give increased pulley contacts at all loads. 

9 









■Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley , 18-inch diameter. DriveN pulley , 9-foot diameter . Distance 
between shaft centers , 33 feet. Belt speed 3725 feet per minute. 

24-inch 2-ply leather belt driving an air compressor for Richard 
Carval Co., Subway Contractors, New York City. This belt, 
under Cling-Surface treatment, delivers 170 horse-power to the 
compressor to maintain an air pressure of 90 pounds, does so 
with a sag of 46 inches and without slip, and is always in perfect 
condition. 


strain sooner or later, usually sooner. 

Ultimate economy in belt service therefore depends primarily upon 
keeping the belts pliable, healthy, vigorous, clean and impervious to surround¬ 
ings—able and ready to work. This is accomplished in the highest degree 

10 










1 


-The Belt Book. 



UNTREATED BELT 


A simple test which 
demonstrates the action 
of Cling-Surface. 

1. Fasten any ordinary small pulley in 
some convenient position and with fingers as 
shown grip an untreated belt. 

2. Next grip pulley with bare hands only. 

3. Then try the same thing with a Cling- 
Surface-treated belt. You can easily feel 
the decided difference in resistance to slip. 

It is simply a matter of cohesive 
contact. The untreated belt, being 
hard and inelastic, cant be ex¬ 
pected to conform perfectly to the 
pulley face, while the bare hand , 
being moist and soft and yield¬ 
ing, takes equally effective hold 
over all area covered. Similarly 
a belt properly treated with 
Cling-Surface becomes pliable 
and “clinging” so that it offers 
the same high resistance to slip , 
but is never sticky on the surface. 
Cling-Surface imparts to and 
maintains the soft velvety cling 
IN, but leaves no deposit ON, the 
belt surface, hence there need be 
no collection of dust or forming 
of lumps. Further, the preven¬ 
tion of slip is accomplished by Cohesion, not ADhesion. The 
belt leaves the pulley without effort after contact, which is in 
marked contrast to the action where a sticky preparation holds 
pulley and belt together at the expense of power loss and injured 
belt surface in tearing them apart. 



TREATED BELT 


by consistent systematic treatment with Cling-Surface, because Cling-Surface 
is a clean neutral preservative and lubricating food that makes and keeps 
belts and ropes mellow, flexible, water-proofed and durable. It penetrates 
the interior, fills and surrounds each fiber inside and out, so that the fibers 
work against their neighbors with the least friction. It gives to a belt face a 
soft velvety smoothness, hard to describe yet vivid to feel, a clinging surface, 
like your damp hand as compared to a dry hand, not sticky, but clean. 
Nothing is left on the belt face. It is in the face. It is the “cling’’ which 
nothing but Cling-Surface gives. 


11 











m, Cling-Surface Co - - - 

Cling-Surface which has once penetrated a belt or rope tends to stay there 
and renders its physical benefits permanently, thus promoting an ultimate 
economy that in itself will well repay the slight cost and effort of applying 
the Cling-Surface. 



Drive N pulley, 12-foot diameter , 62 revolutions per minute. Drive R, 30-inch diam¬ 
eter. Distance between shaft centers , 16 feet. Belt speed , 2340 feet per minute. 

The 16-inch Gandy belt of the Rosslyn (Fa.) Packing Co. drives a 
50-ton ammonia compressor , transmits 300 horse power and has 
been treated with Cling-Surface since 1908. This belt is pliable , 
never slips , never gives trouble and is in the condition that only 
Cling-Surface will assure. The 30 inches of sag gives an addi¬ 
tional contact of 3 feet on the driven pulley and also gives a sub¬ 
stantial increase on the driving pulley. 


12 





The Belt 

Slack vs tight belts 

Unfortunately for themselves power users long considered belt tightening 
the only means of preventing slip, and virtually whip up their belts to force 
more work instead of putting them into better condition so that they could do it. 

The initial tension, formerly considered a necessity, is of absolutely no use 
save to prevent slip, and in other ways is positively so detrimental that when 
figuring on ultimate economy the objections far outweigh the benefits, save 
in rare exceptional cases. 


A parallel case that every bicyclist can appreciate 

Tight belts are just as harmful as tight chains. In the preven¬ 
tion of slip, Cling-Surface treatment accomplishes the equivalent 
of teeth on a sprocket. 


JVrong Way 



Tight chain; runs hardy pops , climbs 
sprocket teeth and breaks balls in the 
bearings. 



Tight belt; strains belt, pulley , bear¬ 
ings, hanger and shafting. A prolific 
xause of hot boxes and burned belt 
surface. 


Right Way 



Loose chain; runs easyy noiseless , 
meshes perfectly and absorbs little 
power. 



Cling-Surface belt; slack but no slip , 
soft velvety surface , all internal belt 
strains eased , bearings run cooler y 
power saved and belt preserved . 


In Prof. Goodman’s text “Mechanics Applied to Engineering” it is shown 
that, if properly lined up, a solid shaft with ordinary bearings would transmit 
power a distance of 6,000 feet with an efficiency of 80 per cent, when all 

13 

















Cling-Surface Go 



DriveR pulley, 4-foot diameter, 213 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 14-inch diameter. 

Belt speed, 2,670 feet per minute 

Running tight before Cling-Surface treatment. See opposite page. 


forces are purely torsional. With belts, in which bending and torsion are 
necessarily combined, that distance drops to 400 feet. Still, 400 feet is a 
much greater distance than is accomplished by shafting under ordinary 
conditions with an efficiency of 80 per cent. An efficiency of 60 per cent is 
high. It is not uncommon to allow a 50 per cent, loss of power in the shafting 

of many modern machine shops. 
Many belt drives are arranged 
^ as shown in Fig. 1, with only one 
hanger to give rigidity to the 
driven pulley. The enormous 
tensions in a tight belt are suf¬ 
ficient to deflect the shafting 
considerably. In practice the 
deflection is not so marked as 
is shown here, but the slightest deflection seriously affects the transmission 
efficiency, as Prof. Goodman forcibly indicates. In operation the shafting 
maintains that form, and the friction, both internal and in the bearings, 
increases with the amount of deflection. 

Tests made by a prominent cotton mill engineer and quoted in Kent’s 
‘‘Mechanical Engineers’ Pocket-Book” (in chapter on “Evils of Tight Belts”) 
showed that in eight modern mills with first-class shafting the power required 
to run the shafting alone ranged from 25 to 39 per cent of the total. Com¬ 
menting upon these figures, this engineer is further quoted as follows: 

14 



















The Belt Book 



Running slack after Cling-Surface treatment. 

A 12-inch camel's hair belt on an overdrive in Townley Mill , 
Middleton , N. Manchester , England , which shows typical benefits 
from Cling-Surface treatment. 

Originally this belt drove a 682-light dynamo (first photo) and even 
when treated with castor oil had to be run very tight , with a man 
standing by to prevent slipping off the pulleys. Later Cling-Surface 
was applied to the belt and an 850-light dynamo was substituted. 
In spite of the 25 per cent load increase , the same belt now runs 
quite slack as shown in this second photo and requires no attention. 


“These may be taken as a fair showing of the power that is 
required in many of our best mills to drive shafting. It is unreason¬ 
able to think that all that power is consumed by a legitimate amount 
of friction of bearings and belts. I know of no cause for such a loss 
of power but tight belts. I believe three-quarters of the trouble 
experienced in broken pulleys, hot boxes, etc., can be traced 
to the fault of tight belts. The enormous and useless pressure 
thus put upon pulleys must in time break them, if they are made in 
any reasonable proportions, besides wearing out the whole outfit and 
causing heating and consequent destruction of the bearings.” 

Further, even if a belt is tightened until the bearings run hot the relief 
from slip can be only temporary and each subsequent tightening puts the 
belt into worse condition. 


15 








Cling-Surface Co 



The upper curve (Trans. A. S. M. E., Vol. 31, Page 43) indicates the fall 
in tension in a leather belt 5^4 inches wide by inch thick, while 
driving a large rotary planer, and depending upon initial tension to prevent 
slip. That tightening to prevent slip is dead wrong is well proven by the 
conditions represented here. Frequent readjustment of the tension here 
would be necessary, would involve considerable labor expense and would 
certainly lead to rapid destruction of the belt. 

There would be no variation in initial tension if this belt were treated 
with Cling-Surface for the simple reason that there need be no initial tension 
other than the weight of the belt. Assuming a distance of twenty feet be¬ 
tween pulley centers and a five-inch sag (which is small on such a belt filled 
with Cling-Surface) and figuring for the same belt as used above, there 
would be but six pounds initial tension per square inch of belt section. 

In the light of modern practice, such belt slackening is to be encouraged. 
It is far better and quite practical to keep the belt throughout in a condition 
that permits it to run slack without slip. In fact, slack or easy running belts, 
with freedom from initial tension, are essential to perfect transmission. It 
has always been possible to run belts easy or slack where the belts are extra 
wide or heavy, and now with Cling-Surface treatment, any overworked belt, 
staggering along under heavy working load plus the friction load of initial 
tension, can be eased with immediate, lasting and very apparent benefit. 

On the average belt treated with Cling-Surface, the idle half, if it is on 
top, can be run so slack that it will almost touch the working half, and this 
slackness increases contact areas on both driving and driven pulleys. A 
40 per cent increase of contact area is not uncommon and this with the 
interior flexibility and surface softness imparted by the Cling-Surface gives 
the belt a maximum gripping power and transmission efficiency. 

We began in 1897 this practice of intentionally slackening a belt to get 
increased transmission with the belt shown on page 17 and the results there 
stated. Some belts, when treated systematically with Cling-Surface, can be 
run slacker than others. Some must fit closely, others can be slackened until 
the sag just clears the driving side (on bottom drive). A belt treated 

16 













































































The Belt Book 



The first belt treated zvith Cling-Surface and purposely slackened 
to increase pulley contact and power-transmitting capacity , 
Union Dry Dock (Erie R. R. y Buffalo , N. Y.), 1896. This was 
an old 12-inch leather belt , stretched out dead under years of tension 
and would not drive at one time all the machines on the driven 
shaft. A few applications of Cling-Surface and slackening not 
only eased the tension and gave plenty of power , but actually per¬ 
mitted several new machines to be added to the line. The increased 
power from this one belt for two years was worth $640 to them , at a 
cost of $63 in Cling-Surface for the whole works , and Cling-Surface 
restored to this belt its lost elasticity and vigor. 


with Cling-Surface and run slack lets the power formerly wasted come 
through to the machines and increase their output. That this is not mere 
theory but hard fact has been proven in every plant in which systematic Cling- 
Surface treatment has been used. The photographs throughout this book are 
further testimonials of what has been accomplished. 

The terms “easy” and “slack” are relative. All belts can be run easy and 
many can be run slack, or loose. Vertical belts, if very slack, would simply 
drop away from the lower pulley, so they should be run easy just snug 
enough to keep in contact with the pulley, but never tight. Most belts of 
over 20 degrees angle from the vertical can be run slack and the slacker 

17 









Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 6-foot 8-inch diameter, 83 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley , 
30-inch diameter. Distance between centers of shafts, 19 feet 6 inches. Belt speed, 
1783 feet per minute. 


Showing the possibilities of Cling-Surface treatment in improving 
the transmission power of a semi-vertical belt. The above 12-inch 
double leather belt in a large railroad shop carried a hard load of 
punching and shearing machinery. Previous to Cling-Surface 
treatment this belt ran tight and due to slipping and power con¬ 
sumed in friction, power was always shorty bearings ran hot 
and there was constant trouble. After Cling-Surface was applied, 
the belt was slackened, by inserting an 18-inch piece, so that it 
wrapped 252 degrees of the pulley, an increase of 63 degrees over 
its old position, and about half this increase on driven pulley. 
This increased wrap with the removal of tightening strain and 
friction and the cure of dll slipping, which both Cling-Surface and 
the wrap effected, gave more power than had ever been obtained 
before, in fact, a margin over needs; bearings are always cool, oil 
is saved, time, labor and worry are saved, maximum results are 
obtained and at least operating expense. 




















The Belt Book 



DriveR pulley, 14-inch diameter, 570 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 8-foot 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers , 28 feet. Belt speed , 2090 feet per minute. 

14-inch leather motor belt transmitting 100 horse power to an air 
compressor in the plant of the Golden Gate Mining Co., Grass 
Valley, Cal. Belts in this plant are painted face and back with 
Cling-Surf ace, and concerning the one above, the chief engineer 
says that at times it runs so slack that the sides just clear, yet he 
has seen no sign of slip. 


they run the more of the pulley they will wrap and the more power they 
will transmit. In many instances, the increased weight of belt between 
the pulleys obtained by running very slack will make the belt run better 
than if only a trifle slack. The increased weight overcomes the centrifugal 
force which tends to throw the belt over and beyond the driven pulley, 
while the added pulley contact adds to the efficiency. 

A tight belt grips only about half, or 180 degrees, of the pulley circle, while 
a belt run slack often grips 260 degrees and more. Naturally the more 
contact surface the more pull, and this is especially advantageous on small 
pulleys and belts having short distance between centers. 

Mr. H. H. Yates, one of whose belts is shown on page 21, very nicely 
explains the advantage of the loose belt in an article in the Practical Engineer 
as follows: 

“Suppose that we take for an example a 6-inch single belt run¬ 
ning over two pulleys, say 30 inches in diameter, with 10 feet 
center to center (Fig. 1, page 21). 

19 















Cling-Surface Co 



Belt at the English Daimler Motor Works (See page 22) which 
shows the remarkable advantage of Cling-Surface treatment for 
belts driving from small pulleys. This belt transmits 14 horse 
power and in spite of the high belt speed does its work perfectly. 
The photography taken under full speed and load , shows the true 
running and the increased pulley wrap due to Cling-Surface. 

20 














The Belt Book 



DriveR and driveN pulleys, 8-foot diameter. Distance between shah centers, 25 feet. 
Belt speed, 2140 feet per minute. 


A thirteen-year-old 26-inch 2-ply leather belt that transmits 
140 horse power and since Cling-Surjace treatment runs with 
48 inches of sag. Sometimes the load here (Maddock Pottery, 
Trenton, N. j) goes up to 156 horse power. 

The theoretical” capacity of this belt is 136 horse power, so 
that the “overload” sometimes reaches nearly 15 per cent. How¬ 
ever, Chief Engineer H. H. Yates tells us, (i This belt never slips, 
but as the peak load comes on, simply sags farther down on the 
pulleys.” 



FIG, 1. TIGHT BELT FIG. 2. LOOSE BELT 


“The circumference of a 30-inch pulley equals 30x3.1416 = 
94.248 inches. If the belt is tight, 0.5 or 180 degrees of the pulley 
circumference will be in contact with the belt or 47.124 inches. 
47.124x6 (the width of the belt) = 282.744 square inches of leather 
in contact with the pulley. 

“Now suppose that the belt is made loose enough to wrap 225 
degrees or 0.625 of the circumference (Fig. 2) of the pulley. 94.248x 
0,625 = 58.905 inches, which, multiplied by 6 (the width of the belt) 
equals 353.43 square inches in contact instead of 282.744, and 
this is only a small belt. 

“While we have been increasing the area of the belt in contact 
with the pulley, we have at the same time secured another bene¬ 
ficial result in that we have decreased the friction load on the bear¬ 
ings. Assuming that the belt when standing is under a strain 

21 











Cling-Surface Co .- 

of 25 pounds per inch of width, easily obtainable; 25x6x2 = 300 
pounds, this transmitted to the bearings, which might probably be 
25x6x2 

2.5x7= 17.5 square inches, ^ — ^- = 17.1428 pounds per square inch. 

“In the second case there would be only 3 or 4 pounds per inch, 
little more than the strain due to the weight of the belt. Taking 
6x2x4 

the larger figure ■ ^ = 2.7428, say 2.75 pounds per square inch, a 

difference of 14.4 pounds per square inch. 



DriveR pulley, 8-inch diameter, 965 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 18-inch 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 5 feet. Belt speed, 2020 feet per minute. 

This fan belt {Scandinavian ), 7fA horse power , is a typical ex¬ 
ample of how the Daimler Motor Co., one of the largest English 
automobile builders , run their belts under Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment , which has been applied to their plant in Coventry since 1905. 
The drives from electric motors {of which they have about 100 ) are 
run without initial tension , and an arc of contact in some instances 
of as much as 270 degrees is obtained with the pulleys. The belts 
hang very loosely when they are idle; in spite of this there is no 
trouble in starting the motors , and , although the load may vary at 
any moment, slipping of the belts does not take place. The relief 
afforded by Cling-Surface treatment in doing away with tightness 
on 100 or more belts here has been very considerable. 

22 















— The Belt Book■■ - 

“At one time, the writer, wishing to test the matter by an ex¬ 
periment, connected a small motor to a small machine in such a way 
that the tension on the belt could be easily varied. With belt slack 
the motor could run the machine up to speed; increasing the tension 
on the belt, the speed was reduced until the belt was very tight and 
the motor was unable to run at all.” 



Main drive R pulley {back of dynamo ), 10-foot diameter. DriveN pulley, 5-foot diam¬ 
eter, 90 revolutions per minute. Distance between shaft centers, 18 feet. Belt speed, 
1412 feet per minute. Shaft pulley {upper left corner ), 67-inch diameter, dynamo 
pulley, 16-inch diameter, 750 revolutions per minute. Distance between shaft centers, 

31 feet. Belt speed, 3140 feet per minute. 

Two typical Cling-Surf ace-treated belts (both 19-inch double 
leather) in the plant of the American Meter Co., Erie, Pa. The 
overpull belt (in the foreground ) never slips any more than the 
main belt {in the background), the latter transmitting 90 horse 
power and both belts running with 24 inches of sag. 

Cling-Surface has been used for 18 years in this plant, and in the 
eight years' service of the above belts, slack has been taken up but 
once. At no time have these belts given trouble, this splendid con¬ 
dition, they agree, being due to the use of Cling-Surface. 

23 

















Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley (on engine ), 13-inch diameter, 240 revolutions per minute. DriveN 
pulley, 16-inch diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 11 feet. Belt speed, 816 
feet per minute. DriveR pulley (on shaft), 40-inch diameter. DriveN pulley (on 
dynamo), 6-inch diameter, 1300 revolutions per minute. Distance between shaft 
centers, 15 feet. Belt speed, 2040feet per minute. 

10-inch gas engine (20 horse-power ) and 6-inch dynamo belts 
in the plant of a newspaper in central Ohio. The small 
pulleySy the top pull on the dynamo belt , and irregular loads of 
printing machinery offer an extremely hard test for Cling-Surf ace, 
but since 1906 , when the treatment was started , both belts pull full 
loads without slipping. 


However, even the increased pulley wrap as a benefit is secondary to im¬ 
proved physical condition of the belt under Cling-Surface treatment, as is 
proven by the fact that a belt previously run tight on an over drive is less apt 
to slip when run slack, and with decreased pulley wrap, after Cling-Surface 
treatment. The hanging of an overdrive away from the pulleys when the 

24 













—. The Belt Book. ■.— 

belt is treated with Cling-Surface does no harm if enough power is trans¬ 
mitted. If the slack is sufficient to greatly decrease the pulley wrap, and does 
let the belt slip, the full benefit from the Cling-Surface treatment can be ob¬ 
tained by putting an idler up under the slack to bring it into pulley contact 
—not tight, but just a loose fit. The benefits from Cling-Surface treatment 
and slack running even on overdrives are shown in illustrations on pages 23 
and 24. 

Cling-Surface reaches the very foundation of perfect belt service by 
making the belt vigorous, pliable, healthy and permitting it to come into 
perfect pulley contact at all points. The belt face remains like the best new 
calf-skin, with nothing sticky on the surface. Like the action of a moist 
hand on a tool handle, the belt surface grasps the pulley, adapts itself perfectly 
to the pulley surface, pulls and releases at will, while the body of the belt 
is in the best possible condition to strengthen and back up the pulley grip. 

Initial tension only overloads the belts, bearings, shafting and engine 



Cling-Surf ace-treated belt running slack in the works of Munz 
and CoStuttgart , Germany . 


25 






















Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 4-foot, and driveN pulley, 3-foot 6-inch diameter. Distance between 
shaft centers, 14 feet. 


9-inch Cling-Surf ace-treated double-leather gas-engine belt trans¬ 
mitting 65 horse power for Wright iff Rowland , Birmingham , Eng¬ 
land. Without Cling-Surface this belt could be run only under 
great tension. As treated , it runs slack without slip or lash , thus 
relieving strain on bearings and increasing life of all parts of drive. 
Although slack when at rest y this belt easily takes starting load. 
5000 feet of Cling-Surf ace-treated belting in this plant. 

26 










The Belt Book 



DriveR pulley, 3-meter {9.15-foot) diameter , 63 revolutions per minute. DriveN 
pulley, 2.30 meter {8-foot) diameter. Distance between pulley centers y 5.90 meters 
{19.3 feet). Belt speed, 1810 feet per minute. 

This 10-inch cotton belt in the mill of Mangeot Freres , St. Maurice , 
France , transmits 70 horse power , runs with 48 inches of slack 
under Cling-Surface treatment , and gives complete satisfaction. 
All belts in both mills of this firm are treated with Cling-Surf ace. 


and in addition to increasing fuel and lubrication expense, is at the bottom 
of almost all belt trouble. This tension is the final burden that stretches the 
belt, destroys its natural elasticity, heats the bearings, melts the babbitt, 
pulls the shafting out of line, keeps the oil from reaching the bearing surfaces 
in sufficient quantity and makes much waste all the way from the engine 
and coal pile to the smallest belt in the plant. The total loss throughout 
the whole transmission line is enormous, and even under the most careful 
vigilance, tight belts involve a greatly increased power consumption. 45 
pounds per inch of width is a common initial tension for single belts and 
from 60 to 80 pounds (Mr. F. W. Taylor says 71 pounds) is a conservative 
figure for heavier belts. On a 10-inch double belt, for instance, 10x70 
(pounds) = 700 pounds. This being for one belt only, imagine the friction 
load from an entire shop full of tight belts! 

Prof. Thurston says in his book “Friction and Lost Work” that the power 
loss in mills and shops ranges from 5 to 70 per cent. Undoubtedly this loss 
is very largely dependent upon the physical condition of the belting. Mr. 
Henry D. Jackson states in Power: 


27 










Cling-Surface Co 



A test which offers simple proof of the possibilities 
of Cling-Surface treatment . 

The 10-horse-power Westinghouse motor at the right in the picture 
is driving two 5-horse-power Westinghouse generators mounted on 
movable tracks attached to spring balances which in turn are 
arranged to show the initial and working tensions within the belts. 
The motor pulley is double and in one piece , and carries two 4-inch 
double leather belts on 8-foot centers. The belts are identical , 
being purchased from stock and from the same roll , but one is 
treated with Cling-Surface , while the other runs just as it came 
from the maker. 

As this apparatus was exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition , 
the belt treated with Cling-Surface was under an initial tension 
strain of 50 pounds and when loaded it ran so slack that the top 
side barely cleared the lower or driving side. 

The untreated belt was under an initial strain of 150 pounds and 
ran tight on both sides. 

The output of the generators was delivered by wiring in plain view 
to two banks of 10-candle-power incandescent lamps , each bank 
mounting 100 lamps. Each dynamo was equipped with a field 
rheostat and a double throw switch for connecting it with either 
bank of lights. Each circuit had a separate voltmeter and watt¬ 
meter , by means of which the voltage generated and power trans¬ 
mitted could be directly compared. 

Many combinations of tests were therefore possible. In detail 
the results of some of these were as follows: 

28 











The Belt Book- — 

With belts running under described conditions and with rheo¬ 
stats equal , the slack belt lit its 100 lamps brilliantly while the 
tight belt would only light its 100 lamps a faint red. 

Only 20 lamps could be lighted by the untreated belt to a bril¬ 
liancy equaling the 100 lamps of the slack belt. 

Reducing the initial tension on the treated belt until the two sides 
of the belt touched made no variation in the light but did increase the 
transmitting capacity of the belt , while a reduction of the initial 
tension on the tight belt instantly showed a corresponding reduction 
in the light of its lamps. 

The delivered power of the treated belt , as shown by voltmeter , 
averaged 110 volts , while the untreated belt , receiving power from 
the same pulley, delivered from 80 to 90 volts. 

The speed of the generators averaged 400 revolutions when driven 
by the slack belt and 300 to 330 revolutions in the other case. 


Another easy way to compare pulling 
qualities of the Cling-Surface-treated 
belt with those of an untreated belt . 



A good smooth clean surface and belts that have seen equal service 
should be selected. The belts should be placed contact side down 
and the surface of the weight in contact with the belt perfectly 
flat. Although the treated belt has just as clean a surface as the 
untreated , an astonishing increase in pull will be required to 
make the treated belt slip. 


“In a number of plants that have been tested, both old and new, 
the friction load has been considerably in excess of 50 per cent of the 
total power generated by the engine. In machine shops it fre¬ 
quently runs as high as 75 per cent.” 

The Southern Engineer published this practical example in their 
January, 1913, issue: 

“A manufacturing plant of 250 horse-power nominal rating 
required an average of 268 horse-power for ten hours a day. The 
establishment had been run for some fourteen or fifteen months 
29 

















.. Cling-Surface Co . 

without any trouble from hot bearings. Friction losses were 
naturally supposed to have reached the lowest possible figure. 

“The question was raised as to the actual losses due. to tight 
and stiff belts. This led to the application of the indicator when 
all the belts were on and when all but the main driving belt had 
been thrown off. The horse-power obtained with the belts on was 
126 horse-power or 47 per cent of the total average power required, 
and 62 horse-power or 23.1 per cent with all but the driving belts re¬ 
moved. The loss due to the belts was practically 24 per cent. 

“The shafting was lined, bearings cleaned and the belts rendered 
more pliable and run as slack as practicable. The indicator then 
showed that 96 horse-power was required, the shafting alone 
requiring 52 horse-power or 19.4 per cent and the belts 44 horse¬ 
power or 16.4 per cent. This is not an extreme case, yet the saving 
is worth while. If the engine required 34 pounds of steam per 
horse-power hour and 8 pounds of steam were obtained with a 
pound of coal, it would mean a saving of 1,139 pounds of coal in 
ten hours. At $3 a ton for coal this means a saving of # 1.79 a day, 
which probably would equal the fireman’s wages. 

“To the casual observer there had been no unnecessary friction. 
Everything ran smoothly, cool, and apparently with little power. 

Yet, $1.79 a day or $537.00 a year was being wasted. It is evident, 
no doubt, that hot bearings indicate excessive and unnecessary fric¬ 
tion, and that the absence of hot bearings does not indicate the 
absence of unnecessary friction.” 

The following table of power costs was compiled on the assumption of 
4 pounds of coal per horse-power hour, 300 working days per year, ten 
running hours per day, and a coal cost of $3.00 per ton. 

Horse- 

Power Per Cent Saving in Power, 

of 


Plant 

10 % 

20 % 

30% 

40% 

40% 

50 

$ 90 

$ 180 

$ 270 

$ 360 

$ 450 

100 . 

$ 180 

$ 360 

$ 540 

$ 720 

$ 900 

200 

$ 360 

$ 720 

$1080 

$1440 

$1800 

300 

$ 540 

$1080 

$1620 

$2160 

$2700 

400 

$ 720 

$1440 

$2160 

$2880 

$3600 

500 

$ 900 

$1800 

$2700 

$3600 

$4500 

1000 

$1800 

$3600 

$5400 

$7200 

$9000 


If in a 200 -horse-power plant operated with tight, untreated belts and 
friction load of 40 per cent, which is a common figure, treatment of the 
belting with Cling-Surface will permit slack or easy running and will reduce 
the friction load possibly to 20 per cent, such a power saving of 20 per cent, 
according to the table, amounts to $720 per year. Isn’t that worth while, 
especially in view of the low cost for Cling-Surface treatment? 

The exact cost of Cling-Surface treatment depends altogether upon the 
existing conditions and the condition of the belt at the time the treatment 
is begun. While some belts absorb more than others, constant application 

30 










The Belt Book 



DriveR pulley, 14-foot, and driveN, 30-inch diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 

30 feet. 

Sixty cents per year for Cling-Surface treatment of this io-inch 
belt has enabled the Aird-Don Co., Troy , N. Y ., to obtain 
40 horse power continuously , without slip , trouble or loss. 
Treatment once a month during the last six years has made 
the belt very pliable , and no belt in this entire plant has been 
tightened since Cling-Surf ace treatment was started . 


until the desired end is reached is never expensive. The costs mentioned 
in connection with illustration above and on pages 8 and 70 indicate a 
fair average. 












Cling-Surface Go 


The application of Cling-Surface 

Each package of Cling-Surface has upon it a label giving short directions 
for its use. These directions will usually be found ample, as the treatment 
of ordinary belting under average conditions is extremely simple. The 
subject is, however, more thoroughly covered in the following pages, to 
give every belt man ready reference and the best methods of procedure 
for all possible extraordinary as well as all simple conditions. For con¬ 
venience, we have paragraphed each condition under special heading. It 
should be noted that this chapter refers only to ordinary fiat leather belts. 
Those of other construction or fabric are dealt with in later chapters. 
Anyone who follows the advice given should obtain results eminently 
satisfactory. 


Systematic application most desirable 


Cling-Surface is not merely a temporary preventive for belt slip — a 
medicine for sick belts. True, it does offer speedy relief in all aggravated 
cases, but when its use is so restricted two-thirds of the benefits are lost. 
Nor is Cling-Surface a “belt dressing” in the usual sense of that term. The 
full value and possibilities of Cling-Surface treatment are obtained only by 
intelligent, systematic application to all the belts and the establishing of the 
slack belt system throughout the plant. A belt once filled will need only a 
little Cling-Surface at intervals thereafter to refresh the face. 

It is well first to treat and fill three or four belts, note the effects and then 
extend the treatment. Some form of record and mechanical reminder can 
be used if desired, in keeping track of the applications to each belt and to 
serve notice as to when the next application should be made. Such a “tick¬ 
ler system ’ can be kept, to give a complete history of the belt in service, 
including cost of maintenance. It will be found too, where the treatment of 
belting with Cling-Surface is put into the hands of one or more competent 
men as their special work, that belt troubles largely vanish; it will also be 
found that the belts are all pulling the maximum loads and that irregularities 
and machine shutdowns, due to belt slip and breakage, are almost unknown. 

To a man accustomed to the trivial effects from belt dressings, many of 
these far-reaching results are sometimes either not realized, or not at once 
attributed to Cling-Surface, but for the man who can realize the possibilities, 
before or after starting the treatment, and who will work for them, thereby 
securing relief for himself from the strain and trouble of poor belt service 
and at the same time giving his works the best possible service with greatest 
output and least attending expense—Cling-Surface will make good everv 
time. J 


Cling-Surface need not now be applied hot 

Cling-Surface is now made so much softer (more nearly liquid) that it 
can be used cold without previous heating, if kept and used in rooms of 
60 I. or over in winter, or anywhere in warmer weather. Where kept in 
colder places heat not over 100° F. (hand warm) until soft enough to use 

ahot^lace nCCeSSaiy ^ advisable to now k eep Cling-Surface cooking in 
greases® ^ inflammable than an T 8 rease > but cooking decomposes 


32 




The Belt Book- 


Cleanliness is imperative 

Cling-Surface should be handled just as carefully as lubricating oil. It 
should never be put into a dirty or oily tin or kettle, nor should it be applied 
with an old brush containing dried paint or varnish, or rag containing oil 
or grease. 

Cling-Surface does not evaporate nor dry on the surface, but stays just 
as it comes. However, it should be kept covered when not in use, to keep 
out dirt and dust. 


Best methods of application 

All belts can be treated with Cling-Surface in either or both of two 
ways. Some prefer one and some the other. 

One method is to use a new or clean paint brush. By touching the brush 
to the Cling-Surface, rubbing off the excess on the side of the can and working 
the brush across the face of the belt, a very thin film can be applied and 
excess in spots avoided. Care should of course be exercised to prevent 
the brush from being jerked from the hand. The Cling-Surface may also be 
applied while the belt is stopped, but this is apt to lead to too heavy an 
application. 

The best way, however, is to ' ' ..-. 

take a stick about eighteen inches 

long by one inch wide and one- stick for the application of Cling-Surface 
quarter inch thick. Wrap and 

securely tie a strip of cloth two inches wide around the end of the stick 
like a bandage. Dip this in the Cling-Surface, wipe the excess off on the side 
of the can , and hold against face of belt, lightly at first, gradually letting the 
flat of the cloth come down on the belt with more pressure, working it 
across the face until all parts have been in contact with it. This method 
insures a light application, prevents too liberal applications, and the man is 
at all times in safety with no danger of having his arm broken or clothing 
caught, as not infrequently follows the use of a brush or bar or stick 
dressing. 

With either method, the face of the far pulley should be watched and the 
application stopped as soon as the brown stain of the Cling-Surface is as dark 
as that indicated on the guide (see inside front cover). Porous belts will 
absorb more Cling-Surface than will non-porous ones, but the stain as a guide 
should not be exceeded. 

As a rule Cling-Surface can be best applied to the inside face while the 
belt is running slowly and under light load. By 
•using care, however, and applying in the very 
light applications as directed, a belt can be so 
treated any time. A good way to work the 
Cling-Surface in and help fill a belt quickly is to 
apply when running on the loose pulley. 

The outer or back side of the belt should also 
be treated by the brush method, which can be 
done best while the belt is idle, painting the belt 
against one of the pulleys. For back treatment 
the Cling-Surface should be applied hot . This 



33 












■Cling-Surface Co 


back treatment is important , because the back of a belt gets the most 
strain and must be pliable to bend around the pulleys. A thick coat of 
Cling-Surface on the back of the belt at all times is not necessary, but 
Cling-Surface should be fed steadily to the belt through the back as fast 
as the Cling-Surface is taken in. 


Frequency of Cling-Surface application 

Most engineers treat oak-tanned belts every other day, at first, though 
some can do it daily, for two or three weeks, to get them filled quickly. 
Some apply the Cling-Surface more carefully and in very small amounts twice 
daily for the first week. In any case the application should never be repeated 
until the stain has not only all disappeared from the pulley but until the 
belt has absorbed all the last Cling-Surface applied. 

The exact frequency of Cling-Surface applications depends on how much 
is applied at once and upon the belt itself, for some belts absorb more quickly 
than others. Too much will cause temporary slip, so it is better to use too 
little and do it oftener than too much at longer intervals. The application 
should be repeated only after the previous coat has penetrated. After the 
first two weeks, the intervals can be extended, for, as a belt becomes more 
and more nearly filled, it will absorb less and less rapidly. The interval 
between applications should be lengthened accordingly until once in four 
to six weeks may be enough to keep the face refreshed. 

If any lumps gather on the pulleys, either Cling-Surface is cleaning dirt 
or old dressings off the belt or the Cling-Surface is being applied too fast 
or too freely or too cold. The lumps are dirt, dust and excess Cling-Surface, 
and if cleaned off as they form and the treatment properly regulated, the 
trouble will quickly disappear. Cling-Surface alone won’t harden into lumps 
on the pulleys any more than it does in the package. (See Cleaning Belts, 
page 35.) 


Treating new belts with Cling-Surface 

New leather, unpainted canvas and hair belts can be treated with Cling- 
Surface before being put onto the pulleys and usually run better by so doing. 

A new belt should be washed with cleaning mixture (page 35) to remove 
tanner’s wax. The front and back may then be painted quite liberally 
with warm Cling-Surface, after which the belt should be hung up in the sun, 
boiler room or some other place where the heat will cause penetration of the 
Cling-Surface. This process may be repeated several times, any unabsorbed 
excess of Cling-Surface wiped off, and the belt rolled up and put in the store¬ 
room for cutting off into lengths as needed. 

Incidentally, the belt stock should not be in a damp place nor in a very 
dry one, and should be kept off the floor. A very convenient belt rack is 
made by suspending iron pipe in convenient notched frames, the iron going 
through the center of the roll of belting, enabling the belting to be pulled 
out (unwound) to any desired length. 

In buying a belt it is advisable to get it from a reliable firm and to make 
sure that it has a close fiber and is very pliable. 

34 




n — The Belt Book ■ 

Cleaning old belts preparatory to 
Cling-Surface treatment 

Some men think it a hardship to have to clean belts, but the improved 
service derived from any cleaned belt will many times repay the small effort. 
Cleaning is not absolutely necessary any more than is cleaning of shoes 
before polishing, but Cling-Surface on top of dirt or belt dressings cannot be 
expected to do its best work or produce the right results. In every instance 
the face to be treated should at least be lightly wiped or dusted off before 
applications are made. 

The best way to clean a leather belt is to 
wash well or scrub with a brush with a cleaning 
mixture composed of two parts gasoline or naph¬ 
tha or petrol and one part turpentine. Note we 
emphasize leather, for the use of gasoline, naph¬ 
tha and the like is not practical on rubber , or 
balata belts. 76 per cent specific gravity naph¬ 
tha or gasoline should be used, as low grades, like painter’s naphtha, 
contain oil and leave the belt greasy. The softened dirt can then be 
scraped off with an old file or dull knife. This washing and cleaning 
should be repeated until bare clean leather is reached. The belt should then 
be dried before it is ready for commencing treatment with Cling-Surface. 

The cleaning mixture gives the best and quickest results. However, any 
form of belt may be cleaned by applying a few treatments of Cling-Surface 
to soften up the dirt, then scraping the dirt off as shown. The softened 
dirt may roll up on the pulleys or come off in rolls or flakes looking like pieces 
of thin black leather. These should be removed, and the loosened dirt scraped 
off, taking care not to scrape hard enough to injure the belt surface. 

Another way is to have a round tank with a cover and a drip near the 
bottom, and large enough to accommodate the belts used and deep enough to 
cover them when raised a little off the bottom. The tank can be nearly 
filled with the mixture and the belts put in in a loose roll and allowed to 
soak for several hours or over night. The belts may then be squeezed 
between rollers or a press, if desired, to force out all the grease, and 
finished as before mentioned. 

Inasmuch as naphtha and gasoline are highly inflammable, the cleaning 
mixture and the fume-laden belt after removal therefrom should be kept 
at least 200 feet away from any fire. If the tank method is used, it is 
advisable to keep the tank covered to prevent evaporation. 



Treatment of oily belts 

The effect of oil which has leaked from bearings and permeated the belts 
can be overcome by Cling-Surface treatment. Belts should, however, be 
protected from this oil spatter or leak, for success cannot be expected when 
the cause of the trouble continues. 

The belt should be washed with the cleaning mixture or with either gaso¬ 
line, naphtha or even turpentine alone. Next the face of the belt should 
be covered with fuller’s earth, powdered chalk or some other dry absorbent 
powder and left on over night or as long as possible. This covering will 

35 





Cling-Surface Co 



An old dirty oil-soaked 12-inch leather belt bought second-hand 
for construction purposes and found to be good for 120 horse power 
when run tight. When photographed it had been treated with Cling- 
Surface and was doing 180 horse power easily. Preparatory to 
Cling-Surface treatment, over 30 pounds of black grease and dirt 
were removed. Cling-Surface forced the oil through the back like 
sweat, and when a years hard work in an open shed was com¬ 
pleted, the belt was resold in better condition than it had been bought. 


absorb much of the oil and the mixture may be scraped off with an old file 
or dull knife. 

A subsequent washing with the cleaning mixture will usually remove 
most of the oil from the surface fibers and Cling-Surface will do the rest. 
Sometimes a second powdering, scraping and washing is necessary. 

Cling-Surface should then be carefully applied to the inner belt face, using 
a little less than for a similar dry belt and repeating as directed for ordinary 
treatments. The outside of any oil-soaked belt, except those treated with 
castor oil, should not be painted at any time. These pores should be left 
open so that Cling-Surface, being a heavier grease than that in the belt, will 
force the oil out through the back. It may be noted oozing out there like 
perspiration. This should be wiped off as it appears, until as Cling-Surface 
penetrates through the belt, the oil is gradually and completely forced out. 

36 













— The Belt 

Leather, plain cotton or hair belts which have been “dressed” with castor 
oil should be very well washed with the cleaning mixture (page 35), for 
castor oil is very gummy and the gum all remains in the belt. Such belts 
should be treated very carefully because the gum hinders penetration and 
too much Cling-Surface causes slip. 

Cling-Surface does not affect belt-cement 

Cling-Surface neither strengthens nor weakens the cement in the belt 
lap. The greater work that Cling-Surface makes a belt do may cause an old 
and weak joint to pull apart, but that simply proves that the belt is exerting 
a strong pull where it was shirking before. 

In re-cementing belts treated with Cling-Surface, the faces to be joined 
should be thoroughly washed off with naphtha or benzine, and allowed to 
dry. The glue can then be applied in the usual way. 

Treating small round belts 

Small round belts may best be treated by painting with, or dipping in, 
warm Cling-Surface, then hanging up over a steam pipe in the boiler room, 
first covering the pipe to prevent burning. After the Cling-Surface has 
penetrated, a second treatment is rarely desirable. Any excess of Cling- 
Surface left outside the belt should be wiped off before putting on the 
pulleys. 

Round belts so treated will be made pliable, will slip less or none at all, 
will last longer and will be less apt to break. If they do break, they will 
usually stretch enough to be relaced. 

This class of belts should usually be taken off to be treated so as to pre¬ 
vent getting excess Cling-Surface on the pulleys, and by having a few spare 
belts ready, the removal will cause no service interruption. All the belts 
can thus be kept in good condition all the time. 

Treating chrome and orange-tanned 
leather and rawhide 

These do not absorb Cling-Surface so fast as ordinary oak-tanned leather 
and therefore must be treated more cautiously. The Cling-Surface must be 
applied in lighter doses, limiting the stain on pulley face to that shown for 
balata. (See inside front cover.) The application may be made daily, or 
every other day, for first week, being guided by the rapidity with which the 
belt absorbs the Cling-Surface which has already been applied. 

The back also should be painted more lightly and succeeding applica¬ 
tions should never be made while any Cling-Surface shows from previous 
application. These belts take longer to fill, but gradually become perma¬ 
nently pliable and supple, and will then do their best work. 

Treating laminated belts 

The treatment is the same as for oak-tanned leather, except that a second 
and third application can be made on the outer side at shorter intervals, 
as the formation of the belt allows the Cling-Surface to work in between 
the strips of leather, and more quickly complete the filling than with 
ordinary leather. 


37 




Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 14-inch diameter, 765 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 5-foot 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 13 feet. Belt speed, 2800feet per minute. 

A 12-inch laminated belt driving an air compressor in John 
Bertram iff Sons plant (also the Canadian plant of Pratt iff 
Whitney). Although the variation of load , sometimes sudden , 
between 25 and 82 horse power makes this a severe test for 
Cling-Surface treatment , the belt had run for two years with 
24 inches of sag under full load without slipping. 


Treating leather link or chain belts 

These should be treated by the brush method, on the back only and while 
idle. The application should not be heavy enough to cause the Cling-Surface 
to run through onto the pulley, for this would cause slip until the Cling-Surface 
was absorbed or wiped off. If the treatment is applied immediately before 
starting the belt, the Cling-Surface will work its way down into every 
part. A light painting twice a week for the first month will be enough for 
the initial treatments and later applications can be made at longer intervals, 
depending upon the suppleness and condition of the belt. Cling-Surface is 
especially beneficial on belts of this type in that it lubricates the bearings, 
prevents the belts from getting dry and out of shape and reduces the rattle 
which they sometimes make. 

Getting the belts slack for full benefits from 
Cling-Surface treatment 

The prevention of slip, with consequent increase of power transmitted, 
as accomplished by Cling-Surface treatment, causes nearly all belts to stretch 

38 








The Belt Book 



DriveR pulley, 5-foot diameter, 82 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 20-inch 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 11 ft. 4 in. Belt speed, 1288 feet per min. 

Main belt, Southam Printing & Lithographing Co., London, 
Canada. An 18-inch splice (faintly visible) was added to this 
12 -inch leather belt to obtain the slack of 3 feet and to make the 
increased pulley wrap practical. The photograph was taken 2}4 
years after starting Cling-Surface treatment and the belt was in 
most desirable condition. (See also illustration on page 18.) 


under this strain up to the extent of the extra load. Often this or the natural 
stretch of a new belt under load will slacken the belt sufficiently so that no 
artificial slackening is needed. 

However, if this is not the case, and the distance between shaft centers is 
fixed, a short length may be spliced into the belt. Such a splice should be 
treated with Cling-Surface as directed under New Belts (page 34) until it 
is like the belt itself. Wash lap (see page 37) before cementing. 

A belt may be eased after a few applications of Cling-Surface, and after a 
few weeks’ treatment should be capable of running thoroughly slack. 

No tighteners needed after Cling-Surface treatment 

Tighteners or idlers used to put tension on a belt are producers of enor- 

39 






Cling-Surface Co 



Formerly an idler was used on this 6-inch leather belt to maintain 
pulley contact and keep the belt from hitting the beam on starting. 
Now with Cling-Surface treatment and a slight shift of driven 
pulley , the belt runs under beam , pulls 15 horse power and the idler 
has been dispensed with . Kutz Knitting Mills , Bechtelsville , Pa. 



Old and oily 30-inch leather air-compressor belt , New York 
Aqueduct construction plant , Yonkers , N. Y. The 1000-pound 
tightener did not prevent slip. Since starting Cling-Surface 
treatment here over a year ago the tightener has not been used once, 
and the belt never slips although running with a sag of 13 inches. 











■The Belt Book- 



22-inch 2-ply leather belt on main drive in 
cotton mill of Pee Dee Mfg. Co., Rocking¬ 
ham, N. C. This belt has had Cling-Sur- 
face treatment since 1907, and 
under a load of 350 horse-power 
runs with 5-foot slack, with 5 
feet more contact on main pulley 
and 1 foot more on driveN pulley 
than when running tight. 


These larger contacts have greatly increased the transmitting 
capacity of the belt, the bearings and engine are relieved of over 
1,000 pounds tension which was formerly necessary to keep this 
one belt from slipping, the fullest efficiency is obtained, the belt 
never slips, nor does it have to be tightened, and it is waterproof, 
clean, and in perfect physical condition. 

The same results have been secured, in proportion, in the case of 
many other and smaller belts throughout this mill. 


41 













Cling-Surface Co 


mous friction with corresponding power loss; they make lubrication costs 
greater and are a source ot expense generally that should be removed at 
the earliest possible moment. 

Cling-Surface treatment prevents slipping better than tighteners can and 
almost always makes tighteners unnecessary. (See cuts, pages 6, 7 and 40.) 

As a belt becomes filled with Cling-Surface the tightener can be gradually 
lifted off. Idlers, trailers or guide pulleys are sometimes used even with 
slack belts (and raised tighteners act as such), not to increase the tension, but 
simply to either keep the belt close to a pulley in overdrives or to guard 
against any sudden lashing under uneven loads. These, of course, are not 
objectionable, but Cling-Surface effects decided economies even in these 
instances. Such guide pulleys should usually be applied near the driven 
pulley and arranged for adjustment, as the least up or down movement 
will make a great difference in the position cf the belt on the driven 
pulley while running. 



DriveR pulley , 15-inch diameter. DriveN pulley , 33-inch diameter. Distance 
between shaft centers , 5 feet. Belt speed , 1960 feet per minute. 

5-inch single leather Cling-Surface treated belt driving two 36- 
inch towel washing machines , one 36-inch fan , one 36-inch roller 
mangle and one 38-inch hydro-extractor in the Lambeth Public 
Baths , Kensington Roads , S. E ., England. 

This is good evidence that Cling-Surface does permit really slack 
belts on short centers. Previous to its use , the belt had to be 
kept under much tension , and even so ran off the pulleys and 
overheated the bearings. The 25 per cent additional pulley con¬ 
tact made possible by Cling-Surface has permitted the removal of 
all initial tension save the weight of the belt. 


42 










The Belt 

Old or weak belts 

Naturally a belt which cannot carry its load will break if it cannot slip. 
Cling-Surface will prevent slip so completely that an old belt too weak for 
an increased load may break, or laces or fasteners may give away, especially 
if the load is thrown on too suddenly. Even a good new belt can be quickly 
ruined by starting under full load as is sometimes thoughtlessly done, and 
too much care cannot be exercised in this regard. It must be remembered, 
however, that although Cling-Surface will make a belt transmit a higher 
percentage of power than it ever has before, no belt, either with or without 
Cling-Surface, should be too light or too narrow for its load. 

Motor and generator belts 

Variation of load, absolute dependability, power economy, minimized 
attention and a smooth steady output are factors which are exceedingly 
important with this class of belts. 

Inasmuch as belted motors and generators are usually mounted on 
sliding frames and provided with adjusting screws, they can be made to show 
quick evidence of the advantages of Cling-Surface treatment and the slack 
belt practice. The slip, burning of belts, the hot boxes and attendant 
annoyances, often resulting from attempts to compel belts to pull peak loads 
under high tension, begin to disappear with the first Cling-Surface applica¬ 
tion. With a dynamo belt of proper construction, flickering of lights due 
to belt slip will entirely disappear as will all the annoyance of static elec¬ 
tricity within the belt. The belt and the bearings can be eased as previously 
explained and the service is bound to be improved. 

Belts coming off 

Belts usually run off* because they slip. Cling-Surface treatment prevents 
the slip, so a belt with Cling-Surface stays on the pulleys if they are in line. 
Sometimes a heated bearing will so increase the load that the belt slips off, 
but hot bearings are rare with slack or easy belts. Too much Cling-Surface 
carelessly applied at one time may temporarily cause a belt to slip off until 
the excess Cling-Surface has been absorbed or removed. Such a belt will 
stay on as soon as the excess is wiped off. 

Fluctuating belts 

Flapping up and down, waving, twisting, swaying back and forth hori¬ 
zontally and twisting corkscrew-like are all conditions detrimental to good 
belt service and which may become a serious menace where the belt has 
enough motion to cause it to leave the pulleys. There is usually a definite 
cause for such trouble, which can be located and corrected. 

Insecure foundations, loose shafting, side play in the bearings and bad 
pulley alignment are often the cause. All belted machines should have good 
foundations, be securely bolted to them and have the shafting of driving and 
driven pulleys perfectly parallel. The pulleys should be truly round and have 
the crown exactly in the center all the way around, for an imperfection in 
either of these respects will make a belt wave and flap very noticeably if 
the belt is run slack. It is also imperative that the edges of a laced joint 
are exactly at right angles to the edges of the belt, that the joint is laced true 
to prevent one side from being a little longer than the other, and that 

43 





DriveR pulley , 16-inch and driveN, 72-inch diameter. Distance between shaft cen¬ 
ters. 9 Jeet 2 inches. Bell speed, 1140 feet per minute. 


A 14-inch double leather belt transmitting 35 horse power on a gas- 
engine drive. This belt is heavy and large for the load , but even 
at that it would ordinarily have had to be run tight to prevent slip. 
Under Cling-Surface treatment it now runs with 24 inches of sag 
under heaviest load , but there is no slip. 


44 













■■■■■■- . The Belt Book . 

no clumsy bunch of laces or belt hooks thump on the pulley with every 
contact. Metal fasteners, especially those running over small pulleys, cause 
the belt to rise or jump as the joint passes over the pulleys. One edge of 
a belt should not be stretched longer than the other, due to absorption of 
oil from a nearby bearing. 

A common cause of flapping and waving is the character of power 
delivered to the,belt, or the character of load the belt carries. A fluctuating 
delivery of power to or from the belt due to suddenly changing shop load 
may set up a corresponding fluctuation within the belt. The pulsating de¬ 
livery of a gas engine or the irregular load from an air compressor, for 
instance, either in connection with other conditions or alone, often makes 
trouble of this kind. Another common cause is slipping. Belts slip a little 
under some peak loads, which causes a little wave to run along the slack side 
of the belt. When this hits the pulley, it gives a wave around the pulley, if 
the belt is not too tight, and this in turn causes greater slipping and so on 
until there is a decided fluctuation given to the belt. 

Wherever flapping occurs, mechanical imperfections, as described, should 
be corrected if they exist. Subsequent treatment of the belt with Cling- 
Surface, by permitting better pulley contacts and by improving the power 
of transmission, will then steady the drive materially. A belt which has 
stretched irregularly is greatly benefited by Cling-Surface, because the Cling- 
Surface makes the tighter part carry more load until the pulling power of the 
whole area of the belt is equalized. 

The Cling-Surface should be applied persistently in small amounts because 
any excess on the inner face of the belt tends to cause temporary slipping 
until it has penetrated. It is the Cling-Surface which has penetrated, not 
that lying on the outside, which stops the slipping. 

Sometimes when Cling-Surface has had only a limited use, there are spots 
in the belt which, due to irregularities in the hide or to past burning, or the 
filler used, as in painted cotton belts, are denser than others and have not 
yet become scrpliable. These will be stiff until they become pliable as more 
Cling-Surface is absorbed, but in the meantime they hit the pulley and tend 
to make the belt jump. Cling-Surface will cure this if its use is continued. 

As the Cling-Surface treatment progresses, the belt may be slackened 
without danger of slip and with less and less tendency toward flapping. 

However, where the load is off and on at short intervals, or for belts on 
gas engines, and with the intervals too quick to allow of the belt’s recovering 
itself, it is advisable not to run too slack a belt, but to run simply easy, 
according to the work done. A very slack belt, though desirable, is not always 
advisable. All belts should be run as slack as possible, even though Cling- 
Surface treatment will enable more power to be delivered by a belt at extreme 
tension than it is possible to give through an untreated belt at the same 
tension. 

Belts subjected to steam or moisture 

The action of moisture upon belts is perhaps more destructive than any 
other influence, and unless a belt is rendered impervious to even the slightest 
surrounding moisture, stretching of the leather, crooked running and weaken¬ 
ing of the cement between laps and plies are inevitable. Especially while 
a belt is idle, does water or moisture tend to penetrate, and in factories in 
warm damp climates, or when plants are unheated during rainy seasons, 

4S 




Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 22-inch diameter, 234 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, wood, 
30-inch. Distance betzveen shaft centers, 10 ft. Belt speed, 1350 ft. per minute. 

An 8-inch single leather belt transmitting 20 horse power in the 
plant of the Chicago Laundry Co. Before Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment many dressings had been used, but the belt remained hard 
and kept the engineer busy all the time. To get even fair trans¬ 
mission, it had to be run so tight that several fillings of the oil cups 
on the engine were necessary every day. After Cling-Surface 
treatment, a sag of 20 inches was possible without slip, dampness 
never made trouble and the engine bearings stay cool with ONE 
filling of the oil cups per day. 


46 









The Belt Book 



DriveR pulley, 6-foot diameter. DriveN pulley, 20-inch diameter, 645 revolutions 
per minute. Distance between shaft centers , 25 feet. Belt speed, 3370 ft. per min. 

Belted portable sawmill , Hoyt BrosWare , Mass. Dirt , dust, 
snow , wwfcr sawdust get on this 14-inch double leather belt , 

but after three years of Cling-Surface treatment this belt still resists 
the elements perfectly. This firm took to Cling-Surf ace in 1901 
to waterproof exposed belts and now states that Cling-Surf ace has 
also effected a noticeable saving in power , bearings and attention. 



This belt , C. Bar ends 9 plantation , Tjarennang , Java , Z). is. /., 
formerly made much trouble because of climatic changes. Damp 
nights and hot days affected the belt fabric too much for smooth 
running , but now , under Cling-Surf ace treatment , slack running 
is always practical. No slip , &<?/* Zf immune to the changes. 

47 














— m ■ ■■ Cling-Surface Co 

some protection for the belting is essential, to say nothing about the alteration 
in belt length due to weather changes. In textile mills, bleacheries, tanneries, 
laundries and the like, moisture interferes seriously with the belt service from 
unprotected belts. In tropical regions some belts have been known to change 
six inches in length in one day. 

Cling-Surface treatment makes belts thoroughly impervious to moisture 
and steam and makes starting up and running as easy and satisfactory on 
wet as on dry days. Special expensive waterproof belts are not necessary, 
as Cling-Surface will waterproof any ordinary belts already in service. A 
cemented leather belt treated with Cling-Surface will resist all ordinary 
dampness and steamy conditions and even considerable submersion in water 
as in floods. A wet belt to be treated with Cling-Surface should first be dried 
out. This will open up the pores to let the Cling-Surface in and afterwards 
the applications can be continued and the belt kept filled in the ordinary 
manner. (See also illustration on page 70.) 

Belts subjected to heat 

Belts running in very dry or hot places as near a furnace or boiler, in brick 
works, etc., may dry out and crack quickly if not protected. 

All such belts can be kept pliable and the danger of drying and cracking 
minimized by a filling of Cling-Surface. 

The Cling-Surface should be painted liberally on the back of the belt and 
the applications repeated as fast as the Cling-Surface penetrates, until the 
belt is thoroughly filled. After the belt is filled, further occasional appli¬ 
cations are desirable, because the heat makes a belt demand more food than 
in ordinary places. Applications to the belt face in this instance should be 
lighter at a time than usual elsewhere. 

Belts in dusty surroundings. Lumping on pulleys. 

Dust particles that float about a plant and settle upon the belts and 
pulleys and cling to them are often a prolific source of bad belt contact and 
slip and when these particles are further attracted by the use of some sticky 
preparation that stays on the outside of the belt, the lumps formed interfere 
with rather than help transmission. This is especially true in wood-working 
shops on account of fine flying sawdust and in clay or flour mills where the 
dust is almost like smoke. 

Belts properly treated with Cling-Surface do not collect dust because the 
Cling-Surface goes into the belts. Too much Cling-Surface at a time, may, 
however, collect dust, and any collection, rolling up, or lumping, indicates 
that the Cling-Surface has been applied too cold or that the treatments have 
been too heavy or too often or both or have been put on dirty belts. Even 
if used hot, either the quantity used or frequency cf application or both 
should be decreased. 

Treatment in dusty places should be almost entirely through the back. 
The face should be given as little as possible, only enough to prevent slip, 
while the Cling-Surface is working through from the back. Another way, 
where possible, with leather belts, is to treat the back only for two or three 
weeks. Then the belt should be turned right over, and the new back treated 
for a similar time. Then reverse to original position. This gives both sides 
a good start in spite of the dust. An occasional light scraping will help 

48 




The Belt Book 

such belts, or treatment can be started off the pulleys as for new belts. 
(See page 34.) 

Painted cotton, rawhide, balata and rubber belts must be treated very 
lightly in dusty places, as shown in scale for rubber (see guide, inside front 
cover) and only once in two or three days or longer (always wiping off dust 
first on these as well as on leather belts). This will take more time, but 
if persisted in, will succeed. 



A Cling-Surface-treated belt doing 80 horse power on uneven load. 
Reliance Flour Mill , Providence , R. I. The belts in this mill were 
gradually changed over to the loose drive idea , delivered more 
power , and with reduced strain on shafting and bearings after 
Cling-Surf ace treatment. The fine dust abounding in this mill 
made no trouble , as the Cling-Surf ace penetrates INTO the belts . 


Belts subjected to both heat and dust 

Belts in factories where rubber goods are made, run at a great disadvan¬ 
tage, as the rooms are, as a rule, abnormally heated and the air is hot and dry. 
Added to this, the atmosphere is often charged with dust, consisting mainly 
of talc, which has remarkable anti-friction qualities. Under these conditions 
something to keep the surface of the belts in working condition is necessary. 

Perhaps the best evidence of the value of Cling-Surface treatment for 
such plants is its use by a leading manufacturer of rubber belting, whose 
entire equipment is served by belts of his own manufacture. After having 
applied Cling-Surface treatment under critical observation for nine years, 
this firm tells us that Cling-Surface fills the requirements in a very satis¬ 
factory manner. (See bottom of page 76.) 

49 











■... ■■ — Cling-Surface Co ■■■■■■ 

The action of Cling-Surface on burned belts 

Leather belts which have never been treated with Cling-Surface frequently 
slip so much that the surface friction between belt and pulley face burns 
hard and unyielding patches on the face of the belt. In hot climates or 
rooms very little additional heat from slipping is necessary to do this damage. 
These charred patches may be unnoticed because the heavy pressure and 
pulley action have rolled them smooth. 

Cling-Surface applied to such leather belts sooner or later loosens the 
dead or charred pieces of leather. These come away from the healthy leather 
around and behind them like the old skin from a blister. Blame should not 
be attached to Cling-Surface for this because the Cling-Surface is only mak¬ 
ing plain or removing some lifeless material which has done the belt no good 
but has blocked the way for better service. Cases where the burning has 



DriveR pulley, 13-inch diameter, 900 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 78-inch. 

Belt speed, 3060 feet per minute. 

A 16-inch double leather motor belt transmitting 100 horse power 
to an air compressor at the quarries of the Woodbury Granite Co., 
Bethel, Vt. Before Cling-Surface treatment was applied here, 
the belt was run tight, yet slipped so much that the room was filled 
with the odor of burning leather. The first Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment stopped the slipping, and although now running with an 18- 
inch sag, this belt has never slipped since. Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment was started here in November, 1912, and the above photo was 
sent us early in the following January. 

50 








■ The Belt Book .. 

been thus severe are more common than is usually supposed. (See illustra¬ 
tion, page 50.) Scraping off burnt leather when such is found, and continu¬ 
ation of the Cling-Surface treatment makes the part of the belt under the 
charred surface as good as ever and checks further disintegration. 

Static electricity checked by Cling-Surface treatment 

Static electricity developed by belts is often a troublesome factor. One of 
its common pranks is the destruction of the filaments of incandescent lamps 
hung near the offending belt. Perhaps the most common cause of static 
electricity is the slipping of belts on their pulleys; it may also be caused by 
passage of belts near iron railings, through floors, or by other belts. High 
speed belts are more subject to static than are slow speed and may even 
generate it within themselves, possibly from the friction between internal 
fibers. Dry air or surroundings seem to be an essential to these conditions, 
for when the air or surrounding objects are damp, static is not noticeable. 

Cling-Surface treatment stops trouble from static entirely in most, and 
lessens it in all, cases by preventing belt slip and internal friction. The belt 



DriveR pulley , 56-inch, and driveN , 16-inch diameter. Distance between shaft centers , 

12 feet , 6 inches. Belt speed , 4250 feet per minute. 

An 11-inch double leather generator belt (supplying 75 arc lights 
in a railroad shop ) which , when run tight , was so constantly filled 
with static electricity that the small chains shown in the picture 
were tried as a remedy. This belt was cleaned, filled with Cling- 
Surface, eased up, and was thereafter run slack as shown and 
without slip. There was no static electricity developed and the 
chains were pushed aside as shown. 

51 







.... ■ ■ - Cling-Surface Co 

should be treated back and face for best results. (See illustration page 51.) 

Belts with short center distance 

Short distance between centers of driving and driven shafts imposes very 
severe duty upon belt, pulleys,shafts and bearings if the belt is heavily loaded. 
The belt under usual conditions must be drawn quite tight to prevent slip 
and the horse power obtainable depends more upon high belt speed than upon 
the strength of the belt for work under ordinary conditions. This is espe¬ 
cially true when one of the pulleys differs greatly in size from the other, 
because of the reduced contact area on the smaller pulley. 

While these conditions are sometimes unavoidable and to be deplored, 
Cling-Surface treatment will invariably improve the belt service here and 
any number of instances can be cited where a short belt, once tight, is now 



DriveR pulley , 4-fool 6-inch diameter , 180 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley 
4-tt. diameter. Distance between shaft centers , 8 ft. Belt speedy 2540 ft. per min. 

10-inch doulle leather belt transmitting 35 horse power in the plant 
of a tool manufacturing company ., Detroit , Mich. With Cling- 
Surface treatment this belt ran with 15-inch sag , never had to be 
taken up , did its work well regardless of under or overloads , and is 
good proof that a non-slipping belt can be run easy on short centers 
as well as on long. The pulley faces are only 45 inches apart at 
the nearest , yet 15 inches of slack is practical in so small a space. 

52 


















The Belt Book 



DriveR pulley, 30-inch diameter , 675 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley , 28-incJt 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers , 14 feet. Belt speed , 5300 feet per minute. 

Several hundred belts have been regularly treated with Cling- 
Surface for ten years in the railroad shop in which the above pic¬ 
ture was taken. NO BELT IN THIS ENTIRE SHOP IS 
RUN TIGHT. The 12-inch 2-ply leather belt in the foreground 
transmits 70 horse power and after two years of Cling-Surface 
treatment runs with 24}4-inch sag , but no slip. 


being run very slack after Cling-Surface treatment, the slack giving a big 
increase of contact area on the small pulley, right where it is most needed. 
(See illustrations, pages 22 and 44.) 

Long center distance 

Mr. F. W. Taylor mentions twenty to twenty-five feet as the distance 
between shaft centers from which best belt service is obtainable. On 
belts for this length and over, the belt should be uniform throughout to 
prevent irregular running, and for this reason textile belts or leather belts 
made only from the center of the hides are recommended for extremely long 
drives. The weight of the length of belt between pulleys becomes a material 
addition to the load and for this reason small pulleys requiring sharp bending 
of the belt should not be used under these conditions. 

53 













Cling-Surface Co .—■ ■ 

The benefits from Cling-Surface treatment are at a maximum on long 
belts. The waterproofing effect prevents change in length under varying 
humidity and the penetration of the Cling-Surface gives the belt surface high 
tractive power and the interior a flexibility that takes the bends with the 
least possible internal friction. 

The effect of Cling-Surface on shifting belts 

Usually the treatment of shifting belts with Cling-Surface gives perfect 
results and does not interfere with shifting of belts of any width back and 
forth on tight and loose pulleys. There seem, however, to be conditions as, 
for instance, where heavy loads are carried on thin belts, that treatment is 
not to be recommended because the cure of slip is so complete that the belt 
resists the shift. Undoubtedly forks placed on the slack side lead the belt 
over with least strain on the belt, but sticks or rods on any part should not be 
continually depended upon to keep a belt in place. Rubber or canvas belts 



Where Cling-Surface treatment defeated the effect of moisture and 
the quarter turn. Steam and surrounding moisture are natural 
belt enemies in this plant , a laundry , and these , with the bad turns , 
had used up three belts on the above 30-horse-power drive within a 
year. The belt shown running between 28-inch pulleys at. 180 
revolutions per minute was first treated with Cling-Surface as an 
experiment. At the time photographed it had seen THREE 
YEARS’ service , was transmitting full load with 4-inch slack on 
one loop and 6-inch on the other and still in perfect condition. 
It runs without slip and in fact so slack that it would drop off 
the angle pulley but for the help of the hanger. 

54 
















The Belt Book 



A 10-inch double leather crossed belt running on 30-inch pulleys, 
Maddock Pottery Co., Trenton, N. J. Note the extreme slack 
which prevents scraping at the cross. This belt is located directly 
over a flint bin where the dust and grit are so bad that the pulley 
faces, originally crowned, had worn concave and had to be renewed 
before the belt was put on. Regular and proper use of Cling- 
Surface in small amounts at a time enables this and about 25 other 
belts in the same room to do their work and remain in splendid 
condition. 


when shifted are apt to fray and open up at the edge, letting the belt stretch 
irregularly. 

Perhaps the best form of belt-shifter is a pair of rollers of twice the width 
of the belt, either of which may be pressed on the slack side of the belt, on 
its flat surface close to the driving pulley. The axis of the roller makes an 
angle of 75 degrees with the center line of the belt. 

Quarter-turn and cross belts benefited by Cling-Surface 

Where pulleys are at right angles to each other and the quarter-turn belt 
sometimes will not come down on the pulley face and only one half of width 
of belt touches on top of the pulley, Cling-Surface will remedy the trouble 
if the belt is sufficiently treated. The belt will become pliable, lie flat on 
pulley, do far better work and last much longer, as the strain is taken off the 
edge of the belt. 

Crossed belts are equally benefited by Cling-Surface treatment and 
similarly can be made to run easy and do perfect work. 

55 








Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 4-foot 6-inch, and driveN, 3-foot 6-inch diameter. Distance between 
centers , 22 feet. 



A 6-inch double leather crossed 
belt transmitting 40 horse power 
in the plant of Gold IA Co., 
Birmingham, England. Al¬ 
though this is a small belt for 
such a big load it runs very 
loose under Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment, does not rub at the cross, 
and never causes hot bearings as 
it did formerly when run tight. 


DriveR pulley , 2-foot 11-inch diameter, 
60 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 
2-foot 3-inch diameter. Distance between 
shaft centers, 12 feet 1 inch. Belt speed, 
550 feet per minute. 


A 6yi-inch crossed leather belt treated with Cling-Surface. Earl 
of Shrewsbury's Brereton Colliery, Rugeley, Staffs, England. 
Note the 16-inch slack and the increased pulley contact obtainable 
to produce the complete stoppage of slip, only possible through 
the use of Cling-Surface . 


56 












The Belt 

Various tests of Cling-Surface 

Many tests of Cling-Surface and the treatment for which it forms the 
basis have been made in shops, mills and laboratories. 

We quote here a few on leather belting to emphasize the far-reaching 
results of Cling-Surface treatment and that Cling-Surface is not injurious to 
any belt fabric. Tests on canvas belting will be found on pages 69 and 74. 

We would call special attention to the contrast with castor oil, which is 
used for belt treatment in some plants because castor oil makes the belts 
look clean and smooth. Castor oil is one of the gummiest oils known and is 
subject to decomposition into elements which are positively harmful. The 
gum forms as the oil dries out (oxidizes). It dries slower in the belt than 
outside, but none the less surely and as the gum dries it cracks and the belt 
fibers crack with it. This is what makes the fine transverse cracks on the 
backs of castor-oil-treated belts. 

Test of Cling-Surface for chemical purity 

A chemical test was made of Cling-Surface and neatsfoot oil, at the 
Department of Chemistry of Cornell University, testing for free fatty acid, 
alkali, ammonia, mineral acid and rosin. The report showed these results: 


Cling-Surface: Fatty acids. ^oo of 1 per cent 

Rosin.None 

Free alkali. “ 

“ ammonia. “ 

“ mineral acid. “ 

Neatsfoot oil: Fatty acids.of 1 per cent 


This neatsfoot oil was the best procurable in the local market and the 
Cling-Surface was a year old when tested. 

Cling-Surface is free from all harmful materials and nearer neutral than 
any oil or grease, either natural or manufactured, usable for belts. 

Prof. E.C. Karch, director of the Kgl. ver. Maschinenbauschulen, Cologne, 
Germany, confirms the above statements as to the purity of Cling-Surface 
in a letter to our German office as follows: 

“I have had much experience with Cling-Surface for a con¬ 
siderable period and at various places. I am very satisfied with 
the results. Cling-Surface cannot be placed among inferior 
belting greases and adhesive preparations, but is a product to be 
taken seriously, which in no wise injures the belts and which can 
therefore be heartily recommended. 

“To prove the harmless nature of Cling-Surface I had same 
examined by the Royal Material-Testing Office at Grosslichterfelce 
West; the result of this examination is stated in the Certificate of 
Examination A. N. 51884, Sect. 6 N. 5850 and reads as follows: 

‘Free mineral acids, free alkali and resin, which according to general 
experience are injurious to leather and ropes, are not present ,’ and 
further, ‘ Mineral substances, tar, resin oil, and free organic acids are 
not present in any quantities which can be detected * ” 

Dr. R. Gartenmeister, of Elberfeld, Germany, a chemist who has done 
German Government work and who because of his high professional repu¬ 
tation was asked to report on Cling-Surface, states: 

57 










Cling-Surface Co 

“Cling-Surface is made of neutral greases, is of a dense but not 
sticky nature and contains no mineral or other products which 
would damage leather, camel’s hair or cotton belts or hemp or 
cotton ropes.” 

Mr. Ernest J. Parry, B. Sc., T. I. C., F. C. S., of London, who is recog¬ 
nized as one of the leading analytical and consulting chemists of the oil and 
grease trade in Great Britain, reports on Cling-Surface as follows: 

“The sample was selected from several hundred large cases lying 
in the warehouses by my assistant, and is therefore representative. 

“I made a full analysis of same, and found it to be free from any 
matter which would have corrosive effect on leather, canvas, cotton 
or similar fibers. It would not have corrosive effect if accumulation 
took place on the fibers, but would rather tend to protect them. 

It is in my opinion perfectly suitable for lubricating belts of leather 
or fibers of any kind.” 

Dr. J. Gordon Parker of London, perhaps the greatest leather expert in 
the world, and the man who was selected by the University of Cambridge to 
choose the leather binding for the latest (10th) edition of the Encyclopedia 
Britannica, made the following report upon his analysis of Cling-Surface: 

“I have made a careful examination of Cling-Surface. The 
sample was drawn by my assistant from a large number of tins con¬ 
tained in your London warehouse. I find that the material 
contains no mineral acids, nor was I able to find any ingredients 
likely to be detrimental to the fibers of leather, canvas, cotton or 
other belting. I also tried a portion of the sample on belting in my 
laboratory and found it very beneficial.” 

Comparative tests of new leather belts with and 
without Cling-Surface treatment 

Tests in 1912 by Mr. Robert Thurston Kent, Mem., Am. Soc. M. E. 
assisted by Wm. F. Schaphorst, Jun., Am. Soc. M. E., formerly a Professor 
of Mechanical Engineering in the New Mexico State College, to determine the 
relative pulling power of treated and untreated belts, at different arcs of con¬ 
tact on the pulley, and at varying tensions on the belt, were made as follows: 

The belts tested were single-ply new leather belts, 4 inches wide and of an 
average thickness of 0.193 and 0.230 inch. Both belts were run under 
identical conditions, without load, over 12-inch pulleys for a period of eight 
weeks, one being treated with Cling-Surface according to the directions for 
its use. The Cling-Surface was applied by Mr. C. F. Chase of the Cling- 
Surface Company. 

Static tests were used, instead of tests with the belt in motion over pulleys, 
to investigate the effect of varying the tension on the slack side and for the 
reason that it was desired to fix definitely the tension that would correspond 
to the tension on the slack side of a running belt. 

The apparatus used was a modification of that used by Briggs and Towne 
to determine the coefficient of friction of leather belts. The arrangement is 
shown in Fig. 1, page 59. The method of operation was as follows: 

A known weight was suspended from the belt at the point A. The arc 
of contact of the belt on the pulley was varied by means of the framework B, 

58 




—— ■ ■ The Belt Book 

which could be revolved 
around the pulley shaft C. 

The end of the belt D was 
attached to a pair of spring 
balances connected to a cross- 
bar, in which was fastened a 
nut. A long screw passed ^ ~ 

through the end of the frame¬ 
work B, and entered in the nut. The weight 
being applied at A, a sufficient length of time 
was allowed for the belt to come to rest on 
the pulley, after which a tension was put on 
the opposite end of the belt by tightening the 
nut on the screw. 

The tension was gradually increased until 
the belt slipped on the pulley, which was indi¬ 
cated by the reading of the spring balances 
ceasing to increase and remaining constant. 

The spring balance reading was then noted, 
and the tension released. An increased load was applied at A and the opera¬ 
tion repeated, until the capacity of the spring balances was reached. The 
untreated belt was then removed from the apparatus and replaced by the 
treated belt, which was then tested under the same conditions. After both 
belts had been tested at a given arc of contact up to the limit of the apparatus, 
the arc was changed and the operation was repeated. Tests were made at 
the following arcs of contact: 125 degrees; 135 degrees; 153 degrees; 180 
degrees. The pulley was cleaned with gasoline before each test. The 
spring balances were calibrated before and after each series of tests. 

The first four sets of curves, page 60, are plotted from the test readings 
and give the relation between the tensions on tight and slack sides of both 
treated and untreated belts for various angles of contact. 

Reference to these curves shows: 

First, that with arcs of contact less than 180 degrees, the tension on the 
tight side increases more rapidly with the treated than with the untreated 
belt as the tension on the slack side is increased. 

Second, that with arc of contact of 180 degrees, the tension on the tight 
side increases at practically the same rate with the treated as with the un¬ 
treated belt as the tension on the slack side is increased. 

Third, that at all arcs of contact and under all conditions regardless of 
the tension on the slack side, the pulling power of the Cling-Surface-treated 
belt is greater than that of the untreated belt. 

Bearing in mind that the effective pulling power of a belt is the difference 
in tension on the tight side (in this case, the tension shown by the spring 
balance readings) minus the tension on the slack side (the weight suspended 
from the belt), the second set of curves, page 61, was plotted to show this 
effective pull for both the treated and untreated belts for all tensions on the 
slack side. An additional curve on each of this set shows the percentage 
increase of pulling power of the treated belt over that of the untreated belt 
at various values of the tension on the slack side. 

59 


















Cling-Surface Co 




TENSION ON SLACK SIDE. LB. 



TENSION ON SLACK. SIDE, LB. 


60 

































































































































































































































PULLING POWER-LB. PULLING POWER-LB 


The Belt Book 



TENSION ON SLACK. SIDE, LB. 



TENSION ON SLACK SIDE* LB- 




TENSION ON SLACK SIDE,, LB. TENSION ON SLACK SIDE, LB. 


61 

























































































































































































































































--— Cling-Surface Co. 

Reference to pulling power curves shows: 

First, that at arcs of contact of less than 180 degrees, the actual pulling 
power of the treated belt increases more rapidly than that of the untreated 
as the tension on the slack side increases; and at an arc of contact of 180 
degrees the pulling power of the treated is greater than that of the untreated 
belt by about the same definite quantity for all tensions on the slack side. 

Second, that with tensions below 100 pounds on the slack side, the actual 
increase in pulling power of the treated over the untreated belt is greater 
with a 180-degree arc of contact than with smaller arcs of contact, and de¬ 
creases with decrease of the arc of contact. 

Reference to the curves showing percentage of increase of pulling power 
of the treated over the untreated belt shows the following: 

First, that at lower tensions on the slack side, the increase of pulling power 
becomes much higher in proportion as the arc of contact increases. 

Second, that as the tension increases on the slack side of the belt, the per¬ 
centage of increase of pulling power of the treated belt over that of the un¬ 
treated becomes greater as the arc of contact becomes less. 

Third, that minimum tension on the slack side and maximum arc of 
contact are the most desirable operating conditions. 

Fourth, that decreasing the tension on the slack side of the belt to a low 
figure, and increasing the arc of contact increases the pulling power of a 
treated over that of an untreated belt in an increasing ratio. 

The limit of the decrease in the value of the tension on the slack side of 
any belt is the point at which the belt will slip on the pulley. The belt will 
be exerting its maximum pulling power at the instant just before it slips. 
The value of treating a belt with Cling-Surface lies in the fact that the tension 
on the slack side of the belt so treated, may, owing to the greater coefficient 
of friction, be decreased to a much lower value than that of the belt not so 
treated, before slip occurs. This decrease in the initial tension is accom¬ 
panied by an increase in the length of the belt, thereby giving it a greater 
wrap, or arc of contact on the pulley. These two factors both tend to increase 
the pulling power of the treated belt over that of the untreated belt in an 
increasing ratio. The following example will make this point clear: 

Assume that, with an arc of contact on the pulley of 180 degrees, an 
untreated belt would slip when the length of the belt was such that the ten¬ 
sion on the slack side was just under 35 pounds. From the 180-degree 
curve, page 61, the pulling power of an untreated belt is 19 pounds and of a 
treated one 31.5 pounds. The increased pulling power of the treated belt 
over the untreated one under these conditions is 66 per cent. Now assume 
that the belts be lengthened so that the arc of contact is 270 degrees. This 
will decrease the tension in the belt to such an extent that the untreated 
belt will slip, while the coefficient of friction of the treated belt is sufficiently 
greater than that of the untreated belt to prevent the treated belt from 
slipping under the same conditions. The friction—and therefore the pulling 
power—increases directly with the arc of contact. Hence an increase in the 
arc of contact to 270 degrees would increase the pulling power of the treated 
belt to 47.2 pounds. As the untreated belt will slip with any further decrease 
in the tension on the slack side it will be impossible to use a greater arc of 
contact for it than 180 degrees. The increase of pulling power of the treated 
belt at 270 degrees arc of contact over the pulling power of the untreated 

62 




■ ■■ The Belt Book 

belt at 180 degrees (the maximum possible) is 49 per cent. As the curves 
show that the decrease in the value of the tension on the slack side of the 
belt increases the pulling power at 180 degrees arc of contact, in an increas¬ 
ingly rapid proportion, and as this tension is decreased by lengthening the 
belt to obtain the additional arc of contact, the actual increase in pulling 
power will be greater than the 49 per cent given above. 

While it is not within the province of the experiments here described, an 
explanation of the cause of the action of Cling-Surface in increasing the fric¬ 
tion of belts on the pulleys, particularly at low values of the tension on the 
slack side and at high arcs of contact, may be attempted. 

On page 1195 of the 8th edition of Kent’s “ Mechanical Engineer’s 
Pocket-Book” are the following statements regarding unlubricated friction: 

“The friction of fibrous material is increased by increased extent 
of surface and by time of contact and is diminished by pressure 
and speed.” ***** “Friction is greatest with soft, and least 
with hard materials.” 

As indicated above, the greatest coefficient of friction enables belts 
treated with Cling-Surface to be run at a lower tension on the slack side, with 
a consequent greater arc of contact than belts not so treated. This results 
necessarily in a greater time of contact while a given length of belt is passing 
over the pulley, and by an increased extent of surface in contact with the 
pulley. According to the above statement this will increase the total fric¬ 
tion, and therefore the total pulling power of the belt. Likewise the decrease 
in pressure due to the greater length of belt contacts necessary to obtain the 
low tension on the slack side increases the friction of the belt on the pulley, 
and therefore its pulling power. 

The belts used in the experiment which were treated with Cling-Surface 
were noticeably softer and more pliable than the untreated ones, which in 
accordance with the second statement quoted above, would tend to increase 
the total friction of the belt on the pulley. 

Tests of Cling-Surface treatment by Prof. R. C. Carpenter, 
at Sibley College, Cornell University 

The belt testing apparatus at Cornell is probably the most complete in 
existence. This machine records power supplied, power delivered, belt 
tension, contact and slip. 

Over fifty tests on belts before and after Cling-Surface treatment were 
made on this machine under the direction of Prof. Carpenter and at a time 
(1899) when the theory of slack belts was still frowned upon. The belts were 
typical and, previous to the tests, had been running under rather better than 
average conditions. A summation of typical results is illustrated in the two 
sets of curves on next page. In the first, with belt speed at 4500 r.p.m. 
the lower curve is characteristic for an untreated belt—more power demand¬ 
ing more initial tension. Note the difference after applying Cling-Surface 
as shown by the other curve. Even under extreme initial tension, the belt 
output was much better after using Cling-Surface, while with no initial tension 
other than due to the weight of the belt, the power output was 40 per cent 
greater than from the untreated belt under the highest initial tension , and fourteen 
times as great as from the untreated belt under the same tension conditions. In 

63 




■ ■ - ■ Cling-Surface Co 

short, the belt was capable of doing far more work at all tensions after 
applying Cling-Surface. 

The second diagram shows that under Cling-Surface treatment and 
greatest loads the belt was wrapping 212 degrees of the pulley instead of 
the 180 degrees usual with tight belts, yet at all times the slip was 
under 2 per cent. This slight slippage was mainly legitimate “belt creep” 
or in other words, practically no slip was present. In short, as the report 
says, “Cling-Surface enables the full capacity of the belt to be obtained for 
transmitting power when the belt is so loose that the sides nearly touch.” 


Showing the uicreased 
pull of leather belting 
under Cling - Surface 
treatment. 




1 

V 










— 


rj 



\ 

s. 



#z 

ith 

vC 

Lf; 



Pg2 



eo- 






FT 


t 

Cl 

in 

<C. 


177 

n g 






0 

%th0i 

i 





























Ze 

ist ofdeft witt andwittci/l 








( 7 liru? -Surface. 



/O 30 *0 30 60 70 8Zs 

J/nitlal jTe/isur/i />erinch of Bett. 


Showing typical in¬ 
crease of pulley wrap 
and decrease of slip oj 
leather belting under 
Cling - Surface treat¬ 
ment. 



tO 70 JO 40 JO 60 
Initio/Tension per Inch IV/rf/r of Oe/fi . 


82,S 


Further tests at Cornell 

A second series of tests made by other observers on this same machine in 
1905 paralleled the earlier tests in a very interesting way. The belt speed, 
however, for the second series of tests was 2200 feet per minute instead of the 
former 4500. Curves from these later tests are given on page 65. The first 
diagram shows much the same results as the first diagram from the previous 
tests always much greater transmission efficiency with Cling-Surface 
greatest efficiency under least initial tension and this better than for an 
untreated belt at its best. The second diagram shows the average efficiency 
m percentage of power transmitted by four untreated belts compared to 
efficiency of one of these after subsequent Cling-Surface treatment It is 
worthy of note that at 2-pound initial tension (the weight of the belt) the 
treated belt was 95 per cent efficient as against 15 per cent before using Cling- 
Surface. Even under 90-pound initial tension, the treated belt trans¬ 
mitted 16 per cent more power than before. 

64 





































































The Belt Book 


a 

u: 

Showing the increased ft 
pull of leather belting ^ ^ 
under Cling-Surface ^ ts 
treatment. Belt speed J •§ 3 
2200 feet per minute. N ^ 

5 v 

•I ‘ 

s 



/a ?C 30 -40 30 60 70 so 

Initial Te/zsicn. /zenincA Width in lb tends. 


30 

Average efficiency o/^ 
four untreated belts ^ ^ 
compared to the eff-\ §' 
ciency of one of these\ 
after Cling - Surface ^ 
treatment. M* 7 

t >/<? 

* * 










7 t 

d 

th 

e 

u? 





?<e 





if j 



iff 





















i / 


el 













gj 

ei 

f —r 













U 

7 

rff 
































/ 

















/ 

















/ 




































/O ?0 50 40 50 60 70 60 

Initial jTensicnpen inch ttldlA in Founds. 


Test of Cling-Surface treatment in the yarn mill of 
I. E. Palmer, Middletown, Conn. 


This practical test was made on belts of a whole department. 

Power statement: 9-13-05: Fitchburg steam engine rated 300 horse 
power. Steam at 130 pounds from Manning boilers, 350 horse power 
combined rating - Cards taken September 6 (p.m.) and 9 (after 11 a.m.) 


weather fair. 

Friction only.94.5 horse power 

Full load.289.4 

Divided as follows: Carding room.116.5 horse power 

Spinning room.135.5 

Twisting room. 37.4 

Friction load is 32.6 per cent of total. 289.4 horse power 


* Departmental power required exclusive of friction. 

Carding room.77 horse power 

Spinning room.89 

Twisting room.29 


For machinery only.195 horse power 

Add friction load. 94.5 


Total. 289.5 

Add casual machines idle at indicating time 10 

Total 


65 


299.5 horse power 

















































































■ Cling-Surface Co 

As the spinning department takes most power, test was made there. 7884 
spindles were run and using 89 horse power; Spindles, per horse power 88. 

Belts are as follows: Engine drive, 2000 feet, inches, four-strand 
manila rope. Speed 5000 feet per minute. Main drives 225 feet, 12 inch, 
double leather, speed 400 r.p.m. Spinning Department 600 feet, 2 % inch, 
single leather. 

This letter gives first report: 

Cling-Surface Co. 

‘‘Last September (1905) I decided to test Cling-Surface to 
determine the actual saving. First I took cards of engines to find 
total and friction load as above. Result: Total 300 horse power, 
Friction load 32.6 per cent. (Time, Wednesday afternoon and 
Saturday noon.) I then treated all belts on face with hot Cling- 
Surface, until pulley showed stain and no more. This was repeated 
regularly for four weeks as each belt showed need of it. Each Satur¬ 
day for four weeks all belts were painted on back liberally with hot 
Cling-Surface. Then all treatment was stopped for four weeks , at 
which time cards were again taken.. 

“Result: A reduction of 8 per cent in friction load. But during 
these eight weeks these same machines have turned out an increase 
of 200 pounds of cotton yarn per week. All belts run slack; 
weather never affects them; damp Monday mornings have no 
influence, belts and machines start up much easier than before; 
bearings are all cool and grade of yarn is better because of even 
speeds. 

“We also notice that belts require much less attention. For 
instance: 36 short belts, driving spinning frames, and running up 
through the floor; we were formerly constantly tightening them, now 
these evershifting belts run quite slack, need no attention and 
never slip. 

“Furthermore the belts have cleaner faces, seeming to reject 
dust, owing to Cling-Surface not being sticky and absence of 
static electricity in belts. 

“The belts had a little Cling-Surface occasionally until January 
25th, 1906, when a third card showed 3 per cent further reduc¬ 
tion in friction load, 11 per cent so far, and I believe we will reach 
15 per cent at least. The belts now need less and less, as they are 
becoming filled, and I am convinced that they will last very much 
longer than before.” 

March 30, 1906. H. D. Martin, Supt. 

Test of Cling-Surface treatment in the silk mill of 
M. C. Migel & Co., Astoria, N. Y. 

(Letter from Mr. H. E. Collins, Consulting Engineer, New York.) 

“Last fall I recommended Cling-Surface to M. C. Migel & Co., 
not so much as a belt preservative but to save power by lessening 
friction. I gave this work special attention because of the close 
margins there to keep the plant running at full speed when the 
heavier loads came on and secured some interesting results. 

66 




— The Belt Book 

“First speeds of all main shafts and the friction load of engine 
were noted. 

“After forty-seven (47) days, during which the Cling-Surface was 
applied to each belt once a week, speeds of shafts and the friction 
load of engine were again taken and the appended table of data will 
show you the success we had. 

“The results were much better than expected, especially in the 
friction load, which was decreased over 18 per cent. 

“This saving of two (2) horse power, if nothing else, means a 
saving of at least $100.00 per year to the firm, which would easily 
pay the expense several times over of the Cling-Surface used. 

“With proper attention and a much smaller amount of Cling- 
Surface each year the same results should be secured, as my work 
demonstrates can be done. 

“Added to this saving in friction, the value of the product is cer¬ 
tainly increased as the steadier speed of shafting gives a more 
uniform tension of the cloth woven and the average output must be 
larger than when the speed of the engine slowed down so often. 

“A year ago this plant was running poorly, the engine could 
not carry the load and the speed was so poor another boiler was 
thought of. 

“The worst feature of the trouble was tight belts. After treating 
the belts, the new boiler was not needed and the plant has run all this 
winter without slowing down. 

“This remarkable performance shows that intelligent use of 
Cling-Surface will accomplish good results. With proper appli¬ 
cation, Cling-Surface can’t help but be of service.”—Hubert E. 
Collins, Consulting Engineer, Astoria, N.Y. 

Speed of shafts and friction load taken in silk mill of 
M. C. Migel & Co., Astoria, N.Y. 


Shafts 

Indicated 

horse power 22 1-10 
♦Speed Sept. 7 

Indicated 
horse power 32 
ISpeed Oct. 24 

Gain 

Main 

160 r. p. m. 

160 r. p. m. 

0 r. p. m. 

No. 1 South 

155 “ 

158 “ 

3 “ 

“ 2 “ 

155 “ 

159 “ 

4 “ 

“ 3 “ East 

158 “ 

159 “ 

1 “ 

“ 3 “ West 

155 “ 

159 “ 

4 “ 

“ 4 “ East 

157 “ 

159 “ 

2 “ 

“ 4 “ West 

154 “ 

159 “ 

5 “ 

“ 1 North 

147 “ 

152 * * * § “ 

5 “ 

“ 2 “ 

147 “ 

150 “ 

3 “ 

“ 3 “ 

151 “ 

151 “ 

8 “ 

Friction load 

11 horse power 

9 horse power 

2 horse power 


* Before Cling-Surface was applied. 

J With 50 per cent more load than when speed was taken Sep¬ 

tember 7, 47 days after Cling-Surface was first applied. 

§ Belt is badly laced, which accounts for no increase. 

67 



















---—....Cling-Surface Co — 

Cotton or canvas belts 

Cotton or canvas belts may be of either of two constructions, woven like 
webbing or folded into a number of plies and stitched. The stitched belts 
are stronger than the woven, everything else being equal, because they are 
denser. A four-ply stitched belt has about the same tractive power as a 
single ply leather. Both forms are sold either plain, or filled and painted. 
Each of these will be considered separately, as their care differs somewhat. 
However, cotton belting of any type must be more thoroughly protected than 
leather to remain in good condition throughout a long life. 

Outside of all consideration of belt preservation, proper care of any canvas 
belt will pay well in the increased amount of power transmitted. Where 
the belt is kept in prime condition it continues to transmit full load without 
the necessity of tightening to prevent slip. This in itself effects a big saving 
in decreased attention, less trouble from hot boxes, worn bearings and a 



DriveR pulleys, 72-inch, and driveN, 48-inch diameter. Distance between shaft cen¬ 
ters, 14 feet. 

Two 12-inch Gandy painted canvas belts that transmit 40 horse 
power each and run with 27-inch slack without slip. Cling-Sur¬ 
face treatment was started here in 1900 in an Ohio binders and 
trunk board mill. The belts were made waterproof and carried 
full loads perfectly in spite of the wet and severe conditions under 
which they work. 


68 






The Belt 

minimized internal friction load. The possibilities of careful treatment of 
cotton belts are well illustrated in the accompanying photographs. 

Ordinarily a four-ply stitched canvas belt should not be run over less than 
a six-inch pulley; a five-ply over not less than a nine-inch pulley; and a six-ply 
over not less than a twelve-inch pulley. Any diameters less than these may 
cause canvas belts to cut in making the short bends necessary at the pulleys. 
When filled with Cling-Surface, however, cotton or canvas belts are more 
flexible and smaller pulleys do less harm. 

Plain canvas belts 

Plain canvas belts are very low priced, but heretofore their use has been 
confined to uniformly dry places because in their natural state they are 
easily influenced by atmospheric conditions. Without special treatment 
they act somewhat like a clothes line—tight on damp days and loose on dry 
days. If left unfilled, a woven canvas belt, and most of them are woven, 
is apt to stretch a great deal and in doing so is reduced in thickness and width. 
A preservative waterproofing composition is of very great value in treating 
these belts in that the inner fibers mat down closer without the surface 
cracking and, by increasing the density, firmness, and weight of the belt, 
prevents this stretch to a considerable degree. 

There are great possibilities in the use of these plain cotton belts, filled 
with Cling-Surface, in all sorts of wet places, or where low-priced belts are 
needed for rough work, as in mines, brick plants, stone works, saw mills, 
threshers, or in fact in any kind of work, outdoors or in, in all sorts of plants. 
The Cling-Surface fills these belts full, makes them pliable, yet firm, prevents 
all slipping, so they can be run slack and carry full load, and makes them 
absolutely waterproof, not only stopping the troublesome stretching and 
contracting from atmospheric changes, but makes them proof against all sorts 
of wet conditions. There will be considerable stretch at first even with Cling- 
Surface treatment, but much of the resulting slack can be left in to increase 
pulley contact. Such a belt is the most waterproof known and can be run 
in water without harm. It is actually more waterproof than a rubber belt, 
for the latter soon develops pin holes, admitting moisture but preventing 
its evaporation. 

Cling-Surface treatment of a plain cotton or canvas belt is a very simple 
matter. The belt should be first cleaned, if dirty, in accordance with instruc¬ 
tions on page 35 and then painted on the face, and more liberally on the back, 
with warm Cling-Surface. As the Cling-Surface soaks in very rapidly, appli¬ 
cations to the inner or face side can be as heavy as for ordinary leather. The 
frequency of subsequent applications is the same as for ordinary leather. 
Some of our customers tell us that they find plain canvas or cotton belts, 
when filled with Cling-Surface before being put into service in damp places, 
ultimately more economical than any ready-to-use belting obtainable. 

Test of plain cotton belting under 
Cling-Surface treatment 

The following extracts are taken from the report on tests of Cling- 
Surface treatment on plain unpainted cotton belting, as made by Mr. E. B. 
Cary at Sibley College, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 

“A cotton belt treated with Cling-Surface is much superior in 

69 




Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 56-inch diameter, 230 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley, 34- 
inch diameter. Distance between centers of shafts, about 35 feet. Belt speed, 3360 

feet per minute. 


A 12-inch 6-ply plain stitched cotton belt , bought with the idea of 
taking the stretch out and waterproofing with Cling-Surface while 
newy and thus obtaining excellent service at lower cost than other¬ 
wise possible. The belt was put into 24-hour-per-day pumping 
service May 1,1911 , to carry 75 horse power and run so slack that 
the sides nearly touched. The initial stretch was taken out by 
taking up when the sides touched , and now the belt has settled down 
to doing uniformly good work and is not affected by the damp night 
air of the Louisiana plantation on which it operates. This belt 
originally cost $30.00 and the Cling-Surface for it $3.50. A 
painted belt of the same size could be obtained at no less expenditure 
than $52.29. The engineer now says that he would not trade the 
Cling-Surface-treated belt for any painted belt , and would not be 
without Cling-Surface even if he had to pay for it himself. 


efficiency, can be run looser, and runs with greater smoothness than 
a similar untreated belt. 

“Data showed that the untreated belt had exhibited quite a little 
more stretch than the treated belt. 

“The Cling-Surface increased the weight of the belt appreciably. 
It rendered the belt much more pliable, and, although applied at the 
surface, did not form a layer there, but seemed to penetrate the 
material and become a part of it. By the quality it gave, the 
roughness of the belt on the running surface partially disappeared 
and gave the appearance of a hard-rough surface which has been 
hammered down fairly smooth. The rough projections were flat- 

70 









■ The Belt 

cened and their surfaces were made even and smooth. 

“In order to ascertain whether Cling-Surface rendered the 
belting waterproof, the effects of soaking the untreated and treated 
belting in water were tried. The belting which was treated with 
Cling-Surface was given two applications on both sides, thus giving 
it a complete coating. Four pieces of belting were used; a three 
inch, three-ply and six-ply, without Cling-Surface, and the same 
sizes with Cling-Surface. The pieces were all marked into twelve- 
inch lengths and were immersed in water for twenty-four hours. 

The untreated and treated pieces were put in separate pails where 
they were completely covered by the water. 

“Upon removing them twenty-four hours later it was found 
that the pieces which had been treated with Cling-Surface were as 
soft and pliable as before and there were no signs that they had 
absorbed any water. When measured it was found that they were 
still of the same length. The water in which they had been im¬ 
mersed for twenty-four hours was as clean as at first. 

“The water in which the untreated pieces of belting had been 
soaking was slightly brown, showing that dirt in the beltings had 
been dissolved. The pieces had been rendered somewhat more 
pliable by the water soaked up but were still quite stiff. The 
three-ply had shrunk a quarter of an inch in the twelve-inch length, 
while the six-ply showed a diminution in length of one-eighth of an 
inch. ,, 

Painted canvas belts 

Painted canvas or cotton belts, of which Gandy, Leviathan, Carton, 
Duke, Sawyer, Teon, Coronet, Mt. Vernon, etc., are examples, are used in 
much greater number than the plain type. Scandinavian belts can have 
similar handling. (See illustrations on pages 12, 22, 27, 41, 42 and 68.) 

This form is filled with a preparation usually of some gummy oil to prevent 
stretching and for waterproofing, and is covered on the outside with one or 
two coats of red paint, thus forming, while new, a good and comparatively 
cheap belt for rough hard work. When run with proper slack this kind of a 
belt for a time gives splendid service without attention, the length of time 
depending upon the character of the work, the load, the amount of slipping 
and the exposure. The painted canvas belt is fairly waterproof when new 
because the paint on the outside and the gum in the filler naturally keep the 
water out. But after a painted belt has been in use for some time, the paint 
wears or chips off the inner surface, leaving the pores more or less open. If 
no protective measures are taken the gum in the fibers gradually hardens and 
the belt becomes stiffen At this stage cracks are apt to appear upon the 
back of the belt, working in from the edge. 

As the belt cracks in this way the fibers are likely to break as well as be¬ 
come exposed to moisture. These conditions need not be serious if given 
proper attention, but if neglected are bound to make trouble. 

Water cannot get out so easily as it can get into the minute cracks and 
if its entrance is permitted at all the fabric sooner or later rots. The original 
preservative and waterproofing materials begin to fail from age and as they 
do so must be replaced or the belt cannot long withstand the strains of service 
and exposure to destroying influences. Something must be appfieu which 

71 




Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley, 72-inch diameter , 200 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley , 42-inch 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers , 11 feet. Belt speed, 3770 feet per minute. 

A 12-inch Gandy (painted canvas) belt , Marion ( Ind .) Stove Co ., 
that had been treated with Cling-Surface for 10 years. This belt 
carried a load of 50 horse power and although it runs with 17-inch 
slack there is no slip. 


will penetrate through the cracks and openings of the paint and get down into 
and among the libers of the cotton to soften the gum and fabric and keep the 
belt pliable. This substance to be effective must not itself be gummy and 
yet waterproof the belt and keep its surface in condition to prevent slip. 

Cling-Surface treatment will fulfill all of these requirements perfectly, but 
as these belts are less porous than the plain type, they absorb the Cling- 
Surface less rapidly. 

Before applying the Cling-Surface, a painted canvas or cotton belt had 
best be cleaned as described on page 34. 

72 















— ■ The Belt Book ■ 

The back can be treated to good advantage, for the film of Cling- 
Surface on a new belt prevents hardening and drying of the belt filling. 
Old belts from which the paint has worn off and which are cracked or 
frayed are greatly benefited by light applications of Cling-Surface at 
intervals and heavier in any cracks. Repetition of this treatment when the 
previous coat has been absorbed will do old belts of this type much good. 

The face must be treated with care not to use too much Cling-Surface at a 
time, because the paint and filler hinder quick penetration. Only enough 



DriveR pulley , 49-in., and driveN, 34-in. diam. Distance between shaft centers , 8 ft. 

An 8-inch painted canvas belt in the shops of the University oj 
Nevada , showing the slack after Cling-Surface treatment . This 
is the belt upon which the test report on page 74 was made . 

73 










-CO .— 

Cling-Surface should be applied to bring a medium stain on the pulley face 
(see tints, inside front cover,) and the applications should not beoftener than 
every other day for the first two weeks. After that the Cling-Surface can 
be applied at intervals of one, two or three weeks or oftener as conditions 
and good service demand. 

The increased load transmitted after Cling-Surface treatment of the 
weak face of painted belts that are old, cracked or torn—the after results 
of harmful dressings, or injury from old slipping and burning—may tear off 
the weak or loose surface areas. In this event, the loose useless canvas 
should simply be removed and the treatment continued on the sound canvas 
underneath, or the belt may be turned over to bring the stronger side next 
the pulleys, and the Cling-Surface applied accordingly. 

For the treatment of painted belts to operate in dusty places, the hints 
given on page 48 will be found effective. 

Test of a painted canvas belt under 
Cling-Surface treatment 

An eight-inch painted canvas belt (shown on page 73) that had been 
in use but one month was treated with hot Cling-Surface, put on the pulleys 
slack and with rawhide lace joint, and made to pull a load of 50 horse 
power in the shops of the University of Nevada (Reno, Nev.). The 
driving pulley was forty-nine inches in diameter, the driven, thirty-four 
inches and the distance between centers eight feet. The results as reported 
to us by Mr. Jas. G. Scrugham, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineer¬ 
ing, were as follows: 


Test No. 

R. P. M. 
Driver 

R. P. M. Driven 

Actual Calculated 

Slip, R. P.M. 

Per cent 
of slip 

Load 

1 

288 

414 

415 + 

1 

.24 

% 

2 

293 

418 

422.2 + 

4.2 

1.00 


3 

297 

421 

428 + 

7 

1.63 

Full 


These tests were made where the air was exceedingly dry. The increase 
in driving speed during the progress of the tests was due to raise of boiler 
pressure and corresponding increase of engine speed. It should be noted that 
under full load the indicated slip was only 1^ per cent, or, in other words, 
there was really no slip at all, since slip up to 2 per cent is mainly belt creep. 

Tar-filled belts 

Canvas belts filled with Stockholm tar correspond closely to painted 
canvas belts in service capabilities, but usually make trouble on account of 
the sticky nature of the tar, which is apt to come out and lump on the pulleys. 
These lumps must be removed as soon as they form. Much of the objec¬ 
tionable surface tar can be dissolved away by application of rhe washing 
mixture described on page 35, or by turpentine, and then the belt can be put 
into the best possible condition by treatment with Cling-Surface. It is 
preferable to take the belt off the pulleys when possible and immerse it 
bodily in the cleaning mixture, but it should be allowed to dry out thoroughly 
before applying the Cling-Surface. 

Cling-Surface treatment of the front and back of the belt as explained 

74 















— The Belt _ 

on page 33 will gradually decrease the amount of lumps as the Cling-Surface 
changes the nature of or displaces the tar, and if persisted in will produce a 
pliable, waterproof belt, clean and good for a long life and for slack running. 

Camel’s-hair belts 

Camel’s-hair belts may be woven largely of hair or with a cotton face and 
like cotton belts are sold both plain and painted. In general they are 
serviceable for the same purposes and require about the same care as woven 
cotton belts. Their preservation by Cling-Surface treatment is equally 
desirable. The efficiency imparted by Cling-Surface treatment is illus¬ 
trated on pages 14 and 15. 

Plain camel’s-hair belts may be painted liberally with warm Cling-Surface, 
as they absorb very rapidly, and the application may be repeated with ad¬ 
vantage two or three times the first week. During the first week the inner 
face can be treated once or twice daily, depending upon how fast it absorbs 
the Cling-Surface. After the first week, treatments of both face and back 
can be extended through longer intervals until once every six to eight 
weeks is enough. 

Just as with plain canvas, many Cling-Surface users get their camel’s- 
hair belts unpainted, waterproof them by preliminary Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment and thus get the same advantages as explained on page 69. Our 
customers also often take new painted camel’s-hair belts, soften the paint and 
wash it off with turpentine and then partially fill the belt with Cling-Sur¬ 
face before putting into service. The paint is only a finish which does the 
belt no good except possibly while new, and will only lump off on the pulleys. 

The application of Cling-Surface to old painted camel’s-hair belts seldom 
involves consideration of the paint (page 71), as that has usually worn off. 
However, a washing with the cleaning mixture before the Cling-Surface is 
applied is worth while. 

Rubber belts 

Rubber belts consist of layers of canvas, alternating with layers of rubber 
and covered with a rubber skin. The strength is chiefly in the canvas, a 
four-ply rubber belt being about equal in tractive power to a single ply leather 
belt. The rubber is chiefly intended as a waterproofing protection. The 
quality of rubber belts ranges from the best to very poor. 

Unfortunately the demand of other industries has made the price of 
rubber high, and has tempted some belt manufacturers to use too little 
real rubber and too much filler. A certain percentage of filler is necessary to 
give the rubber body. This filler is of an earthy character, and when used 
in excess not only lessens the strength of the rubber and the adhesion of the 
plies to their neighbors, but also causes the belt face to polish quickly and 
slip. The earthy particles soon wear bare of rubber and slip, while an inferioi 
rubber belt is weak. The face may soon burn or tear and any of the plies 
may loosen up and separate under the stress of bending and load. In some 
cases, this is a local blister, while in others it is more extensive. As a belt 
ordinarily slips when the heavy stresses come, thus relieving itself (and 
incidentally wasting power), some weak places may exist for a considerable 
period and not be especially or at all apparent. 

Further, an untreated rubber belt, no matter how good, is actually water¬ 
proof only while new. Any soft rubber subjected to atmospheric exposure 

75 




Cling-Surface Co 



DriveR pulley , 3-foot diameter , 235 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley , 6-inch, 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers, 16 feet. Belt speed , 2210 feet per minute. 

A 6-inch 4-ply rubber belt (Hoyt Bros. y Ware , Mass.) that offers 
a severe test for Cling-Surface treatment. The planer and trac¬ 
tion engine work all year around. So much dirt , snow and water 
get on these belts that they were formerly hard to keep in running 
order , but not since Cling-Surf ace treatment , which has saved much 
money for this firm since 1901. 

ultimately dries out, changes its chemical composition and becomes brittle. 
In belting, the rubber face fills with pinholes and minute cracks, the latter 
due to the bending action. These surface openings admit moisture much 
more readily than they permit of its evaporation, hence unless protective 
measures are taken, the canvas interior is apt to rot. 

Rubber belts neither should nor do absorb Cling-Surface at all, but the 
action of light applications of Cling-Surface is a decided advantage in filling 
up surface holes, maintaining water-tightness and enabling the belt to be run 
continously easy or slack and pull full loads. The Cling-Surface unites with 
and refreshes the surface rubber, giving it new life and a new and perfect 
grip on pulleys, without any stickiness. It also covers over the fine earthy 
particles, destroys their polished gloss, and thus turns the slipping into a 
gripping face. The extent to which Cling-Surface maintains these benefits is 
evidenced by this comment by a prominent maker of rubber belting: 

“We are frequently asked to furnish a belt to transmit a given 
horse-power. Ordinarily it is not safe to send out a belt on a 
higher coefficient than one horse-power for 1000 feet per minute 
per unit of width (one inch). This is very low and if we could be 
assured of Cling-Surface treatment, we could send out belts on a 
500-foot base, or a coefficient of two horse-power per 1000 feet per 
minute for each inch in width. There is an economy of operation 
in this as well as economy of first cost since the dead load of the 
lighter belt is much less.” 


76 












™The Belt Book 

Rubber belts, preparatory to Cling-Surface treatment, should be washed 
with only soap and water or can be given a few treatments with hot Cling- 
Surface, which will gradually soften the dirt, which may then be carefully 
scraped olF. They may also be turned over if the back is cleaner than the 
face. Benzine, gasoline (petrol) and cleaning mixtures based on these, 
should never be used on rubber belts, as they dissolve the rubber. The treat¬ 
ment must be cautious , for it is easy to use too much Cling-Surface on such 



DriveR pulley , 40-inch diameter. DriveN pulley , 30-inch diameter. 


12-inch rubber belt on 40 horse power gas engine in the plant of 
Geo. J. Roberts Co., Dayton, Ohio. Since its first Cling-Surface 
treatment in 1905, this belt runs with 18 inches of slack, and is in 
perfect condition today despite the fact that it was under water 
5 days during the Dayton flood. Many other rubber and leather 
belts in this plant are running slack without slip, thanks to Cling- 
Surface treatment . 


77 















■■■■....■■■..Cling-Surface Co — 

a non-absorbent body. The back should get only enough Cling-Surface occa¬ 
sionally to fill the surface pinholes or any cracks, and the face should be 
treated only with an almost clean brush or swab to insure light applications. 
The brush or swab should be scraped on can until nearly free of warm Cling- 
Surface and worked lightly across the belt face while the belt is running slowly. 
All parts of the face should pass under the brush, which should be spar¬ 
ingly refreshed at intervals, and the application stopped as soon as pulley 
shows light stain as shown in scale of tints, inside front cover. The application 
should not be repeated oftener than every other day for a week or two, then 
weekly for a month, and afterwards at longer intervals only as needed to 
make the belt do its best work. The hints under “Dusty Conditions,” page 
48, should prove helpful in this regard. 

With Cling-Surface, properly applied in small amounts to a rubber belt, 
the day of slipping and shirking is over. The belt must carry all the load 
demanded. The increased strain due to such perfect transmission under 
Cling-Surface treatment may cause the rubber to tear in spots on a weak or 
on an old rubber belt where the face has lost much of its early hold on the 
canvas beneath. The use also of many cheap, thin, oily dressings separates 
the rubber from the canvas. Whatever the original cause may be, in such 
event Cling-Surface should not be blamed — the belt simply fails because 
Cling-Surface has not failed. 

As a matter of fact the belt is as good or better without the worthless 
surface skin, for the skin polishes and will not pull, has no initial strength 
and is not even waterproof, being full of pinholes, while when it is off, Cling- 
Surface can be applied to the canvas underneath, which will pull, has strength 
and quickly becomes really waterproof. The removal of the useless loose 
rubber and spent fabric involves no loss. The Cling-Surface, by stopping 
the slip and power loss of the past, makes the belt do full duty, and failure 
is certain evidence that that part of the belt is not adequate to its work. 

Balata belts 

Balata belts of various makes are almost identical in construction with 
those of rubber, save that some balata composition is substituted for the 
binder and facing and as a rule impregnates the fabric better. They have 
the same or better water-tightness, and are much used abroad where they are 
cheaper than leather. Balata is a more tenacious gum than rubber, hence the 
plies are more firmly cemented together and the surface skin also holds better. 

A balata belt is stiffer at first than a rubber belt and if not constantly 
used, tends to grow worse. Samples of balata belts under our observation 
have grown hard as a bone in time. The practical absence of stretch in 
service is often a cause of difficulty with a balata belt, and as there is little 
natural pliability the belt must ordinarily be put on the pulleys very tight. 

Balata belts are bound to slip under such conditions, and as the surface 
of the belt has naturally a high coefficient of friction and is not naturally 
slippery, a high degree of heat is sometimes developed. The heat warms 
or melts the balata on the surface and between the first two plies. This melt¬ 
ing weakens or separates the surface skin of balata between the first two 
plies. In fact this heat has been known to become so great that it has 
extended right through the belt and made the balata on the back come up 
in tiny bubbles. One of the largest manufacturers of such belts abroad, 

78 




The Belt Book 



A 5-inch halata gas-engine belt in the plant of C. Griffiths , 
Stonebridge , England. This belt runs between pulleys 13 feet 
apart and is subject to sudden changes of load. Since treatment 
with Cling-Surface, it runs quite slack and carries full load 
without slipping . 


in case of complaint regarding the disintegration of a balata belt, cites 
this feature of bubbles and puts blame on allowing the belt to slip. 

Cling-Surface therefore is beneficial for balata belts, as for rubber belts, 
in small applications at a time , much less than for leather. It will properly stop 
slipping without harming the belt, if used correctly, but will make the belt 
slip if used too freely. The advantages, nature and frequency of Cling- 
Surface applications are practically the same as for rubber belts (page 75). 

Cling-Surface, however, cannot make good the effects of past abuse or 
damage from slipping or heating, and cannot be held accountable when, by 
forcing the belt to do the work demanded of it, makes apparent such defects. 

Weak or burned surfaces, which the increased stresses may lift, can be 
removed, and the treatment continued on the next ply with very satisfactory 
results. Cling-Surface has been used for years for balata belts abroad and 
to some extent at home and in Canada with entire satisfaction. 

79 









Cling-Surface Co 



E.YOR 


LTS 


Rubber belt conveyors taking 
stone and sand to a concrete 
mixer. This is very severe ser¬ 
vice , but the use of a small 
amount of Cling-Surface, es¬ 
pecially on the back of the 
belts , has proven beneficial. 


Conveyor or bucket belts 

Conveyor belts, plain or with buckets riveted upon them, are made of so 
many different materials, carry loads of such wide variation in nature and 
amount, travel at such a wide speed range, are so badly bent throughout 
their length and are subjected to such a diversity of surrounding conditions 
that a general discussion would be beyond the scope of this book. It is safe 
to say, however, that the constant bending over rollers, pulleys, sheaves, etc., 
the weight of load, the surrounding dust, dampness, the possibility of chem¬ 
ical action from contained material, etc., either separately or collectively, 
demand at least preservative treatment of the conveyor belt if not an aid 
to positive action and power economy. 

Cling-Surface treatment can be depended upon to keep such belts in 
better physical condition and offer every aid in the way of maintaining a non¬ 
slipping surface. 

It is a common complaint in chemical fertilizer and similar plants, using 
conveyor belts with buckets riveted upon them, that the action of fine dust 
settling around the rivets causes rapid corrosion and rotting away of the belt, 
thereby loosening the buckets. This chemical action will be materially 
reduced and the belts last much longer if hot Cling-Surface is applied to them 
freely while new, particularly around the rivets in contact with the belt. 

£0 














■■■—.. The Belt Book 

Rope Drives 

Rope has a much wider range of application than belting, as it transmits 
power economically through any distance from a few to 400 feet, around 
angles, between floors, and in fact between almost any two shafts regardless 
of their position with reference to each other. One main rope drive can be 
made to carry power to a number of buildings or floors, the ropes all passing 
around the driving pulley and dropping off at the driven shafts as each 
requires. Ropes are low in first cost, run steadily, noiselessly, can be eco¬ 
nomical in installations of any size up to about 4000 horse power each and 
produce no electrical disturbances. A rope drive takes less width than a 
belt drive, and further, owing to the much higher speed of travel permissible 
with rope, the total efficiency of the rope drive may be much increased over 



Rope drive in the Parramatta Woolen Mills , Sydney , N. S. W 
which shows how slack an English system drive may run after 
Cling-Surface treatment. It should he noted that although re¬ 
splicing has been postponed until long after the slack side has gone 
down through the driving side , each rope of the latter assumes an 
equal amount of the load . The exaggerated slack is beneficial rathe* 
than otherwise in that the pulley wrap has been greatly increased . 

81 
















Cling-Surface Co 




Rope drive treated 
with Cling-Surface 
and run in the 
open on the roof 
of a malt house 
in Buffalo for five 
years. The pre¬ 
servative effect of 
Cling-Surface is shown in 
the lower illustration. 


Section of rope taken from the 
outdoor drive shown above , after 
five years of Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment and constant service while 
exposed to the dampness , winter 
cold and storms of the lake regions. 
Note that the fibers and core had 
remained in perfect condition up 
to the time when plant changes 
necessitated the removal of the 
drive. 


82 


















The Belt Book 



DriveR sheave, 38-inch diameter , 375 revolutions per minute. DriveN pulley , 22-foot 
diameter. Rope speed, 3730 feet per minute. 

Two ten-rope ( lys-inch manila) American system drive from 
200-horse-power induction motors to ammonia compressors in the 
plant of Crystal Ice & Storage Co ., Buffalo , N. Y. This rope has 
averaged continuous 24-hour service for over 300 days per year 
since 1908 and often carries 20 per cent overload. Previous 
to Cling-Surface treatment , a 400-pound weight carried on the 
tension carriage was necessary to prevent slip , but now 100 
pounds of this weight have been removed y the ■ ropes are running 
easy and there is no more slip. 


that of the belt drive and the wear and tear on the shafting reduced, owing 
to the decreased weight of the driving pulleys. 

Rope drives are of two types: first, the English or Multiple system in 
which there is a separately spliced rope for each groove in the sheaves, and, 
second, the American or Continuous system in which one long rope is wound 
round and round the sheaves and has ends spliced slack to form a loop in 
which a tightener sheave and weight are hung to regulate the tension. 
Both forms have advantages under specific conditions. Rope of the same 
diameter will do an equal amount of work on either system. 

The multiple system is preferable for large drives, for, if one rope breaks, 
the others can continue to pull the load until a convenient time for repairs. 
The best results are secured from this system where not exposed to the 
weather and where the shafts are parallel, and as the rope always travels 
in the same direction, it is apt to be longer lived than in the continuous system. 

83 














Cling-Surface Co 



Drive R sheave , 15-foot diameter, 90 revolutions per minute. Drive N sheave, 8-foot 
diameter. Distance between shaft centers , 40 feet. Rope speed, 4240 feet per minute. 

1 }/ 2 -inch manila driving ropes (.American system ) that had had 
Cling-Surface treatment for over a year. Drive No. 3 , which 
is one of several large drives so treated y has 14 ropes , all flexible , 
in perfect physical condition and waterproof. The engine de¬ 
velops 600 horse power. 


The multiple system also costs less to install and by getting at the start, 
sheaves with a few additional grooves, the addition of a few more ropes for 
power increase is an easy matter. The continuous system is preferable for 
drives having turns, for vertical drives and in fact for drives in any compli¬ 
cated position. The tension carriage must be so located that a backward 
and forward or up and down movement of the carriage is practical to auto¬ 
matically govern excess slack from varying load or stretch in the rope. 

The transmission ropes most used in America are of manila hemp, while 
in other countries cotton and occasionally rawhide and even hair ropes are 
found. Transmission ropes vary from one-half to three inches in diameter, 
and may have from three to six strands, the four and more strand ropes often 
having a special core. The three-strand ropes make short turns well but are 
less serviceable than four or more strand ropes, hence should be used only on 
lighter work. Ropes of four or more strands have a greater proportionate 
cross-sectional area of material and conform better to the grooves in which 
they run. Cotton ropes are the softer and more flexible, hence give best 
service on sheaves of comparatively small diameter, but owing to inferior 
strength of the fiber are perhaps less to be recommended for severe duty. 

84 








The Belt Book 


Transmission ropes show their first and worst wear on the inside, and for 
this reason an old rope apparently in good condition may be entirely unfit for 
service. Constant bending around the pulley sheaves causes the internal 
fibers, if unprotected by some lubricant, to rub and grind harshly against 
each other. The fibers of one strand slide upon each other, and the strands 
in like manner slide upon each other and the core. Where moisture is per¬ 
mitted to penetrate the rope, the center ultimately rots, while if left dry, 
it grinds into a fine powder. To counteract this tendency, some manu¬ 
facturers lubricate the core, which is quite advantageous, but as the rope ages 
the lubricant must be replenished. Formerly tallow was offered as a rope 



Rope drives treated with Cling-Surface for over a year and running 
out-of-doors at the plant of the George Stratford Oakum Co., Jersey 
City , N. J. Some of the weights have been removed from the ten¬ 
sion carriage since Cling-Surface treatment and the transmission 
power is better than ever . The rope is waterproof and pliable . 

85 












Cling-Surface Co 

lubricant, but this develops a harmful stearic acid and dries out, leaving 
the rope core hard and brittle. 

Cling-Surface treatment offers an ideal means of rope preservation, as th~ 
Cling-Surface works into the rope, mats down the surface fibers to a form 
which conforms best to the sheaves* and penetrates and surrounds each in¬ 
ternal fiber with a preservative lubricant. The fibers are thus made to 
work in real oil bearings, free from internal friction and chafing, while the 
whole rope is kept pliable, firm and absolutely waterproof. A rope filled 
with Cling-Surface can be run out-of-doors or in any sort of wet surroundings, 
will not slip even if run easy or slack and will invariably outlast an untreated 
rope, for the Cling-Surface will not be washed out on exposed drives. 

Cling-Surface in ropes running on either multiple or continuous systems, 
therefore, renders resplicing a necessity of rare occurrence. 

Cling-Surface treatment of ropes running on the multiple system equalizes 
the tension among the individual ropes through its prevention of slip and 
thus compels the best load distribution in spite of the ropes stretching or 
loosening up unevenly. The absence of slip permits slack running and as the 
rope is also rendered impervious to weather conditions, the usual troubles 
due to tight running and contraction of the ropes in wet weather are thus 
doubly prevented. 

Cling-Surface treatment of ropes running on the continuous system per¬ 
mits the removal of much weight from the tightener and tends to reduce the 
“differential” by keeping the rope at practically uniform ease at all points. 
The exact amount of weight on the tightener carriage must, of course, be 
determined by conditions peculiar to each drive, but common sense dictates 
that this weight should be kept as low as consistent with smooth running. 
Only enough weight should be put on the tightener carriage to keep the rope 
from jumping the grooves. A prominent rope manufacturer states that any 
rope will do but a fixed amount of work in given time, and that the addition 
of surplus tension, while giving greater adhesive power, only makes more 
strain that unnecessarily shortens rope life. 

In the application of Cling-Surface to ropes, the cleaner they are to start 
with the better, but as it is often not possible nor 
practical to clean ropes, they must be taken as 
found. Ropes thickly coated with tallow or wax 
and graphite can hardly be cleaned nor will Cling- 
Surface easily penetrate, hence Cling-Surface treat¬ 
ment of such is not as beneficial. On manila ropes 
the hot Cling-Surface should be poured in a thin 
stream from a coffee-pot. It should be applied while 
the ropes are running slowly and near where the 
ropes enter the upper arc of the sheave, because at 
this point the strands tend to open. Part of the 
Cling-Surface runs into the groove but is taken up 
on subsequent contacts. In addition to or in place 
cf this method, warm Cling-Surface may be painted 
onto the slowly moving ropes just where they enter 
the groove at the bottom of the pulley. The teapot 
method is better, but either or both can be used. The treatment may be 
continued as fast as the Cling-Surface works into the rope, repeated at 

86 






The Belt Book 


Ten 1^8 4-strand 
mznilo rop: drive 
from i 200 h. p. motor 
driving 54 r. p. m. 
ammonia compress¬ 
ors. Before using 
Cling-Surface, about 
400 pounds weight 
was necessary on the 
tension carriage, and 
even then there was 
slip. Since using 
Cling - Surface this 
weight was reduced 
about 25 per cent., 
slipping stopped and 
now ropes run easily. 


intervals of three or four days for the first two or three weeks and then 
extended over longer intervals. 

In splicing ropes after Cling-Surface has been used, the ends should be 
unlaid and soaked in gasoline or naphtha, or even turpentine, which dis¬ 
solves the Cling-Surface and leaves the fibers clean. 

Cotton ropes absorb more Cling-Surface than do manila ropes and more 
rapidly until filled. They may with care be treated daily for two weeks, 
then extending the intervals to once every month or two as needed. Inas¬ 
much as the objections thus overcome and the other advantages of Cling- 
Surface treatment here are similar to those for plain cotton or canvas belting, 
reference to the chapter on this subject, page 69, should be helpful. 

Rawhide ropes should have very little Cling-Surface at a time and less 
often than cotton or manila, just enough to stain pulley grooves a very light 
oak color at an application. They absorb Cling-Surface so slowly that an 
excess may cause slipping. Hair ropes should be treated the same as manila. 

Ropes on mechanical stokers 

Ropes used on mechanical stokers are frequently the cause of much 
trouble. The heat of the furnace and trying conditions of the work cause 
quick wear, and much slippage occurs if the rope is not always at extreme 
tension. If these ropes be well painted with hot Cling-Surface and hung up in 
a warm place, so that the Cling-Surface may be absorbed before putting the 
ropes on, they can be run with considerable slack and do their work better 
than if tight, and will last many times longer than if untreated. Treatment 
of stoker ropes already running is same as for manila ropes, page 86. 



87 









Cling-Surface Co 


Other methods used 
for improving belt transmission 

The following are mentioned, not as rivals of Cling-Surface in scientific 
belt and rope management, but because of their occasional use by men who are 
sincerely endeavoring to do what is best for mechanical efficiency and for their 
belts. Such men,we believe, are desirous of being posted on what objectionable 
features exist in some of the other theories and materials employed and would 
prefer to have this additional information. 

Neatsfoot oil. This has been known for years and has much to recom¬ 
mend it for some treatments of leather, but the benefits show their value rather 
less in belt service than in other uses to which leather is put. Neatsfoot oil 
is not gummy, hence it keeps the leather pliable and prevents drying or cracking. 
The disadvantages and limitations are that it is to a certain extent volatile, 
it contains more free fatty acid than Cling-Surface does, and because it is a 
liquid oil, tends to increase stretching and to make leather too soft for best 
transmission purposes. It does not give the pliable, mellow density and 
strength that Cling-Surface with its heavier body does give, nor does it prevent 
slipping except in so far as a pliable belt slips less than a dry, hard belt. A belt 
treated with neatsfoot oil cannot be run slack under full load with the true 
advantages of slack running. Cling-Surface will be found to do all that neats¬ 
foot oil will do and very much more besides. 

Castor oil or linseed oil. These vegetable oils are not an ultimately 
economical treatment for belts, even though frequently used and appearing 
to give a degree of satisfaction. They are of the gummiest of commercial 
oils, and the gum in solution is carried in and among the belt fibers as far as 
the oil penetrates. The liquid parts of these oils slowly dry out and leave the 
gummy elements which continue to stiffen and sooner or later become hard 
enough to crack. . When these elements do crack, the belt fibers crack with 
them. This is the explanation of the fine transverse cracks, particularly 
across the backs of belts which have had initial or subsequent treatment with 
castor or linseed oil. It is these same gummy elements that make a belt so 
treated look slick and smooth, and, in a measure, lessen its tendency to slip. 
Both of these oils also decompose into harmful fatty acids. Proof of the 
decomposition of castor oil is obtainable by placing some in an uncorked bottle, 
setting this in strong sunlight or in a warm place and in time observing the 
changed appearance. 

Soap, rosin, printers’ ink, etc. These are all used for belts and are 
all harmful even though they give temporary relief from the worst of the slip¬ 
ping. Rosin or any resin is well known to dry out the belt and cause it to 
become husky, lifeless, polish up, and subsequently crack on the surface. (See 
page 5.) 

Printers ink contains rosin, gummy oils and varnishes, which is the chief 
reason why it is used. Printing ink for its legitimate use is supposed to dry 
within 24 hours, and continued application to belting builds up an objectionable 
coating on belt and pulley surfaces. 

Soap gives a fine, smooth face to a belt, but many soaps contain rosin, 
while all contain more or less free alkali, which slowly destroys the natural 
oils and deteriorates the fibers of the belt fabric. 

88 




The Belt Book — 

Stick or semi-solid treatments. Manufactured preparations in 
solid form, even though containing no harmful ingredients, cannot be beneficial 
to belting, because it is impossible for the solid material to penetrate the belt. 
It consequently must remain on the outside. The belt receives none of the 
food it requires to do best work and last, even though the material contains 
such food. 

In general. No preparation should be used on belting without complete 
assurance that it contains not more than 50/100 of 1 per cent of free fatty 
acid; that it contains no rosin nor any resin, nor rosin oil; that it contains none 
of the gummy, sticky oils or varnishes; no soap; no naphtha nor other inflam¬ 
mable materials used for liquefying; and that it actually will and has over a 
sufficient term of years preserved belts and permitted them to be run slack 
under full loads. Photographs of treated belts with letters giving full data 
from reliable firms offer desirable proof of the value of any manufactured belt 
preparation. 

Simple tests to determine some of the objectionable ingredients can be made 
as follows: 

Naphtha, gasoline, petrol, etc. A small amount of the prepara¬ 
tion, if poured on a tin box cover and heated to 80° F., will ignite if any of these 
are present; also, if put in a loosely corked bottle and warmed, will lift the cork. 

Gummy oils, varnish, gums, etc. These are easily detected by 
placing a small amount of the preparation on a flat tin and placing for a few 
days on a hot radiator or steam pipe. Any change in character, as to sticki¬ 
ness, drying out, or the leaving of gummy film or crust, is about the same as 
would take place on belting, and is of course harmful. 

Soap. Solid substances used on belts are often based upon soap, rosin or 
some other gum. If soap is present, a piece of the substance (about the size 
of a nut) placed in a glass of water and allowed to stand for several days will 
soften, dissolve somewhat and give the water a cloudy appearance. 

Before applying any substance at all to belting it is well to put a little on a 
clean piece of leather, place on an engine steam chest or on a hot radiator and 
then note the degree and time of penetration and whether the surface is left 
sticky. 


Comparative testing of belt preparations 

Some men thoughtlessly attempt to test Cling-Surface upon the same belt 
as has been used in trying another preparation. Frequently an old belt is 
used, or one which slips, or one on which almost everything has been tried. 
Such a test is no test at all as previous treatment may have vital influence upon 
the result. 

Two belts should be taken from the same roll , one thoroughly filled with 
Cling-Surface and the other treated with the other preparation as directed by 
the manufacturer. The belts should be put to similar work and the number of 
times each requires any attention should be noted. Inclined or horizontal 
belts with under-pull offer the best demonstration as they may be slackened 
more to get the full benefit of increased pulley contact. 

Careful record should also be kept of slip as measured by speed indicators, 
for there is apt to be more slip on an improperly treated belt than most people 
imagine. The belts being tested should be examined quite regularly and the 
Cling-Surface or other preparation re-applied, as the labels direct. 

89 




Cling-Surface Co 


By following these suggestions a comparative test can be made which 
will be a real comparison and will bs of real value. 

Why coverings on metal pulley faces are not desirable 

The use of coverings, paint, etc., on the pulley face is necessarily based upon 
the theory that the polished pulley face, and not the belt, is the element at 
fault in cases of belt slippage. This hypothesis we believe to be wrong for 
numerous reasons. 

A pulley covering is intended to produce greater efficiency by increasing 
the frictional quality of the pulley face, which latter is accomplished by rough¬ 
ening that face. Any pulley covering that is in the slightest degree rougher 
than the polished metal raises the belt up on the highest points of the rough 
surface, thereby decreasing the area of contact between belt surface and pulley 
surface, and thereby increasing the tendency to slip by a corresponding 
amount. The tendency at peak loads is thus toward decreased instead of in¬ 
creased transmitting capacity. 

No material with which it is possible to coat a pulley will absolutely prevent 
ah slip at all times When slipping therefore does occur, necessarily a higher 
degree of heat is developed between the belt and the rough pulley face than is 
possible between the belt and a polished pulley face, with possibility of in¬ 
creased injury to the belt in consequence, while on the other hand absolute 
prevention of slip at all times may not be desirable. 

Under starting torque or sudden imposition of heavy load a slight momen¬ 
tary slipping is essential to permit the belt to assume its load gradually as it 
should. You know that if a street car motorman tried to get his car up to 
full speed from rest by throwing the controller through all notches at once, the 
passengers and mechanism would get a severe jolt and the motor if unprotected 
by a fuse would burn out. Similarly, slight momentary belt slip performs the 
same safety function as the fuse and does so automatically to prevent sudden 
destructive strains. Granting then that a pulley covering could prevent slip 
completely under extreme conditions, there would be nothing gained. 

Pulley coverings rarely retain uniformity of face which they have at the 
start, and the growing irregularity continues to decrease belt contact and 
belt efficiency. As the glue or cement with which the covering is held dries 
out, becomes brittle and cracks, the intimate pulley contact is disturbed and 
slippage is aggravated. Furthermore, the dependence on pulley coverings 
alone for increasing belt efficiency does nothing to preserve the belt fabric and 
keep it pliable. Efforts to produce perfect belt efficiency through manipu¬ 
lation of the pulley face do not offer the proper solution, and tend to aggravate 
rather than stop the trouble. 

On the other hand, proper belt treatment as herein recommended does 
entirely eliminate the trouble and does so without considering the pulley face 
in any way whatever. It may be noted that all photographs in this book 
portray belts running on polished pulley faces, and that in every case unde¬ 
sirable slip is so thoroughly eliminated that the belts can pull full load while 
running slack and are in perfect condition and health. 


90 




The Belt Book 


Cling-Surface treatment is, we believe, 
the only system which is universally 
depended upon for perfect belt service 

Steadily earning its way from one country to another during the past 
eighteen years, Cling-Surface has become known and valued throughout 
the world, and is now used as much abroad as at home. 

Well-established business, which can only result from genuine merit, in 
almost all foreign manufacturing countries, has necessitated registry of the 
name Cling-Surface and our trade-marks in the patent offices of such coun¬ 
tries, among which are: 


United States 

Germany 

Norway 

Java 

Peru 

Canada 

Austria 

Belgium 

Japan 

Ecuador 

Great Britain 

Hungary 

Holland 

Australia 

Mexico 

Spain 

Russia 

India 

Argentine 

Cuba 

France 

Italy 

New Zealand 

Brazil 

Philippines 


Sweden 

Ceylon 

Chile 



As further evidence of universal use at home and abroad, Cling-Surface 
can be obtained at any time, either from our own stocks in warehouses or 
from our agents’ stocks in any of the following cities: 


New York 39-41 Cortlandt Street 
Boston 170 Summer Street 
Philadelphia 520 Arch Street 
Chicago 565 W. Washington Blvd. 
St. Louis 915 Security Building 
Minneapolis 202 First Avenue South 


WAREHOUSES 
Atlanta Denver 

Memphis Washington 

Cincinnati Greenville 

Toronto, etc. 


Also in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Spokane, Portland, Tacoma, Butte, 
Reno, Albuquerque, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Phoenix, Tucson, 
Salt Lake City, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Nelson, etc., etc. 


Abroad in 

London 37 Tabernacle St., E. C. 
Glasgow 95 Bath Street 
Paris 27, Rue Eugene Varlin 

Lille 229, Rue Solferino 

Dtisseldorf Stromstrasse 3 
Madrid Fuencarral, 134 
Budapest VI Lovag u. 19 
Bruxelles 55, Quai au Foin 
Rotterdam Boompjes, 82 
Also in Gothenburg, Kieff, Colombo, 
Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Vera Cruz, 
Singapore, Bandoeng (Java), Buluwayo 


Calcutta 12 Mission Row 

Sydney 85 Clarence Street 

Auckland (New Zealand) 58 Queen St. 
Johannesburg 24 Chorton Chamber 
Manila 105 Escolta 

Buenos Aires 562-566 Calle Moreno 
Lima 399 San Jose 

Havana 51 Cuba Street 

Kingston 72^ Harbour Street 

Mexico, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Monterey, 
Honolulu, Port of Spain, Tokio, Valparaiso, 
(Rhodesia), etc., etc. 


Cling-Surface is on the Official Approval Lists of the British Government, 
the British Navy and Army Lists and the Government of India— 
an unusual recommendation for a foreign product 


91 






Cling-Surface Co 


Index 


Heavy figures indicate illustrations 


Page 


ACID IN BELT DRESSINGS.... 57,88.89 


AIR COMPRESSOR BELTS, 10, 19, 38, 40,50 

ALIGNMENT. 43 

ALKALI. 57 

AMERICAN ROPE DRIVES, 82, 83, 84, 85,87 
AMMONIA COMPRESSOR BELTS, 12, 83 
APPLICATION OF C-S (Inside front cover) 

In general.32, 33 

Back of belts.33, 37, 48 

Balata belts.49, 78, 79 

Burned Belts. 50 

Camel hair belts. 75 

Canvas belts. 69 

Canvas, painted.49, 71-74 

Chain belts. 38 

Chrome belts. 37 

Cotton belts. 69 

Crossed belts. 55 

Dusty conditions.48, 49, 80 

Excess.33, 43, 48, 77, 79 

Fluctuating belts. 43 

Frequency. 34 

Generator belts. 43 

Hot conditions.....48, 49 

Laminated belts. 37 

Link. 38 

Long center. 53 

Motor belts. 43 

New belts. 34 

Oily Belts. 36 

Old belts.43, 73 

Orange tanned belts. 37 

Quarter turn. 54 

Rawhide belts.37, 49 

Ropes. 86 

Round belts. 37 

Rubber belts...49, 75 

Shifting belts. 54 

Short center.42, 52 

Small round belts. 37 

Tar filled belts. 74 


Wet conditions. .42, 45, 46, 47, 48, 54, 68, 69, 

70, 76, 80 

AUTOMOBILE FACTORY BELTS. 20, 22 
BALATA BELTS, APPLICATION OF 


C-S TO.79, Cover 

BALATA BELTS.49, 78, 79 

BELTS IN— 

Automobile factory.20, 22 

Brick plant.6, 7, 69 

Central station. 8 

College. 73 

Contractor’s plant.10, 40, 80 

Cotton mill.41, 65-66 

Flour mill... 49 

Foundry. 72 

Knitting mill.... 40 

Laundry.42, 46, 48, 54 

Machine shop.20, 56, 79 

Mine.19, 56, 69 

Packing house.12, 44 

Paper mill. 68 

On plantation.47, 70 

Pottery.21, 55 

Printing plant.24, 39 

Railroad shops.17, 18, 51, 53 

Saw mill.47, 76, 69 

Silk mill..66, 67 

Stone plant.50, 69 

Sugar mill. 47 

Woodworking plant.47, 76 

Woolen mill. 4 

BELTS— 


Best to buy. 34 

Blistering ®f.50, 75, 78 

Blower.22, 42, 53 


Page 

BELTS— 

Breaking of.43, 78 

Cement, effect of C-S on. 37 

Cementing. 37 

Cleaning mixture. 35 

Coming off. 43 

Compressor..10, 19, 38, 40, 50 

Creep. 74 

Dressings.88, 89 

Dressings, bar belt. 89 

Dressings, tests for. 89 

Fan.22, 42, 53 

Gas engine.24, 26, 44, 77, 79 

Highspeed.20, 21 

Management, scientific. 5 -8 

New. 34 

Oily.35. 36 

Old... 36, 43, 78 

Overloaded. 18 

Over pull.14, 15, 23, 24 

Preparations, tests for. 89 

Rack, how to make. 34 

Scraping. 35 

Short center. 22, 42, 44, 52, 72 

Shifter. 55 

Slackening.16, 17, 18, 19, 21,39,43 

Slip. 74 

Small.22, 42 

Stickiness. 11 

Stretching of.38-39 

Stresses.13-30, 27 

Tearing of.74, 75, 78, 79 

Tight, evils of.13-30 

Too slack. 45 

Top pull.14, 15, 23, 24 

Vertical. 17 

Waterproofing.45, 48, 54, 68, 69-72, 75, 

76, 77, 82, 85 

Weak.43, 78 

BELTS, KIND OF— 

Balata.78, 79 

Bucket. 80 

Camel hair.14,15, 75 

Canvas.68-74 

Canvas, painted.12, 48, 68, 73 

Chrome. 37 

Conveyor. 80 

Cotton.27, 68 

Gandy.11, 12, 68, 72 

Laminated.37, 38 

Leather....4, 6, 8, 10, 17-23, 26, 28, 29, 36, 
38-41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 49-56 

Link. 38 

Orange tan. 37 

Rawhide. 37 

Rubber.75-78, 80 

BELTS, SUBJECT TO 

Dust. 47, 48, 49, 76 

Heat.48, 49 

Moisture.45, 46, 47, 48, 54, 68, 70, 76 

Steam.45, 48 

BLEACHERIES. 48 

BRICK PLANTS. 6,7,69 

BURNED BELTS.. 43, 50, 51 

CAMEL HAIR BELTS.14, 15, 75 

Application of C-S to.77 Cover 

CANVAS BELTS.34, 68, 73 

Application of C-S to.73, 74, Cover 

CARPENTER, TESTS. 63 

CARTON BELTS, TREATMENT OF. 71-74 

CASTOR OIL. 15,36,37,57,88 

CEMENTING BELTS. 37,39 

CENTERS— 

Long.53, 54 

Short.42, 52 

CENTRAL STATION BELTS. 8 


92 











































































































































The Belt Book 


Page 

CHAIN BELTS. 38 

CHARRED BELTS. 50 


CHROME LEATHER BELTS, APPLI¬ 
CATION OF C-S TO.Cover, 37 

CLEANING BELTS.34, 35 

Plain canvas. 69 

Rubber belts. .. 77 

CLING-SURFACE, (SiiE APPLICA¬ 
TION OF C-S) 

Applying safely. 33 

Cost of.8, 17, 31, 70 

Evaporation of. 33 

Guarantee. 3 

How it acts. 25 

How to apply.33, 73, 77, 79 

Not hot. 32 

Tests. 57 

“Tickler system”. 32 

Too much.33, 34, 45, 77 

Treatment, cost of.8, 17, 31, 70 

Treatment, how often. . .32-34, 37, 38, 45, 69 

Treatment to belt back.33, 34 

When not to use. 54 

Where used. 92 

COLLEGE BELTS. 73 

COMPARATIVE TESTING OF BELT 

PREPARATIONS. 89 

CONE PULLEYS, BELTS ON. 5 

CONTACT, LARGE.16-21,41,42,90 

CONTRACTOR S BELTS.10, 40, 80 

CONVEYOR BELTS. 80 

CORNELL UNIVERSITY TESTS . 57, 

63-65, 69-71 

CORONET BELTS, TREATMENT 

OF.71-74 

COST OF C-S.8,17,31,70 

COTTON MILL BELTS.. .14, 15, 41, 65-66 

COTTON BELTS.27, 49, 68, 70 

Application of C-S to.73, 74, Cover 

Cleaning. 37 

Tests.69-71 

COTTON ROPES. 84 

COVERINGS, PULLEY. 90 

CRACKS IN PAINTED BELTS.71, 72 

CREEP, BELT. 74 

CROOKED RUNNING. 45 

CROSSED BELTS.55,56 

CUTTING BELTS. 43 


DAMP CONDITIONS. .45, 46, 47, 48, 54, 68, 

70, 76, 80 

DIRECTIONS FOR APPLYING C-S, 
(SEE APPLICATION OF C-S) 


DIRTY BELTS. 48 

DIRTY CONDITIONS. 80 

DRY CONDITIONS.48, 51, 74 

DUSTY SURROUNDINGS.. .47, 48, 49, 53, 

76, 80 

DYNAMO DRIVE.15, 24, 43, 51 

ECONOMY IN CLING-SURFACE, 

USE OF.8, 17, 31, 70, 76 

Lacings. 31 

Oil. 46 


Power.8, 12, 13, 17, 27 30,31,70 

EFFICIENCY TRANSMISSION. .,13,14, 27 

29, 30, 64-66 


ELECTRICITY, STATIC. 51 

ENGLISH ROPE DRIVES.81, 83 

FAN BELTS.22,42,53 

FATTY ACID.57,58 

FLAPPING BELTS.43,45 

FLEXIBILITY OF COTTON OR 

CANVAS BELTS. 69 

FLICKERING LIGHTS. 43 

FLOUR MILL BELTS.48,49 

FLUCTUATING BELTS.43,45 

FOUNDRY BELTS. 72 

FRAYING BELTS. 55 

FRICTION, TRANSMISSION .14, 15, 21, 

29, 30, 41, 65-67 
FULLER’S EARTH. 35 


Page 

GANDY BELTS.12,68,72 

GANDY BELTS, APPLICATION OF 

C-S TO.Cover, 71-74 

GAS ENGINE BELTS.24, 26, 44, 45, 77, 79 

GASOLINE. 89 

GENERATOR BELTS. .11, 15, 23, 24, 43. 51 

GLUING BELTS. 37,39 

GUARANTEE. 3 

GUIDE PULLEYS. 42 

GUMMY OILS. 89 

HAIR BELTS. 34 

Cleaning. 37 

HAIR ROPES. 87 

HARD BELTS. 46 

HIGH SPEED BELTS. 20 

HOT BEARINGS.14, 15, 18, 42, 43 

HOT SURROUNDINGS.48, 50, 87 

IDLERS. 6 , 7, 39, 40, 42 

For top pull belts. 25 

When to use. 25 

INITIAL TENSION.... 13, 16, 25, 27, 63, 65 

IRREGULAR RUNNING. 53 

KNITTING MILL BELT. 40 

LACING BELTS.5,43 

LAGGING ON PULLEYS.. 90 

LAMINATED BELTS TREATING.. .37, 38 

LAPS LOOSENING. 43 

LAUNDRY BELTS.42,46, 48,54 

LEATHER BELTS. .4, 6 , 8 , 10, 17, 19, 21, 
23, 26, 28, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 
49, 50, 51, 52,53, 55, 56 

Application of C-S to.32, 33, Cover 

Cleaning. 35 

LEVIATHAN BELTS, APPLICATION 

OF C-S TO.Cover, 71-74 

LINK BELTS. 38 

LINSEED OIL. 88 

LITHOGRAPHING PLANT BELT.... 39 

LUMPS ON PULLEYS.34,48,74 

MACHINE SHOP BELTS.20,56,79 

MALT HOUSE ROPE PHOTO. 82 

MECHANICAL STOKER DRIVES.... 87 

METAL FASTENERS. 45 

MINE BELTS.19, 56, 69 

MOIST CONDITIONS.45, 46, 47, 48, 54, 66 , 

70, 78 

MONEY SAVED THROUGH C-S 

TREATMENT. 8 , 17, 30, 67 

MOTOR DRIVE.19, 22, 43 

MT. VERNON, BELTS.71-74 

NEATSFOOT OIL.57,88 

NEW BELTS. 34 

NON-POROUS BELTS.Cover, 33 

OAK-TANNED BELTS. 34 

OILS, GUMMY. 89 

OILY BELTS.36, 40,43 

Treatment of.35, 36 

ORANGE - TANNED LEATHER, 

TREATING.37, Cover 

OUT-DOOR BELTS.47, 69, 76 

OVERLOADED BELTS.21,43 

OVER-PULL BELTS.14,15, 23, 24 

PACKING HOUSE BELTS.12,44 

PAINTED CANVAS BELTS, 

Treatment of.71-74, Cover 

PAINT ON PULLEYS. 90 

PAPER MILL BELT. 68 

PLANER BELT. 76 

PLANTATION BELTS.47,70 

POROUS BELTS.33, Cover 

POTTERY BELTS.21,55 

POWER LOSSES (SEE FRICTION LOAD) 

POWER SAVING. 8 , 17, 27, 29, 30, 36 

PRINTER S INK, USE OF. 88 

PRINTING PLANT BELT.24,39 

PULLEY COVERINGS AND PAINTS 90 
PULLEYS, AT RIGHT ANGLES.... 55 

Crown of. 43 

Lagging for. 90 

Small.20, 22, 24,52, 53, 69 

Untrue.. 43 


93 































































































































Cling-Surface Co 


Page 

PULSATING DELIVERY. 45 

PUMP BELT. 70 

QUARRY BELT. 50 

QUARTER TURN DRIVE.54,55 

RAILROAD SHOP BELTS.. 17,18,51,53 

RAWHIDE. 49 

RAWHIDE ROPES. 87 

RAWHIDE, TREATMENT OF. 37 

RESIN OIL. 57 

ROPE DRIVES.66,81-87 

ROPES, APPLICATION OF C-STO.86 Cover 

Hair. 87 

On mechanical stokers. 87 

Rawhide. 87 

Resplicing. 87 

Tallow for.85, 86 

Waterproofing. 82 

ROPE TENSION, PROPER. 86 

ROSIN.5,57,88,89 

Freedom from in C-S.57, 58 

Guarantee of freedom from. 3 

ROUGH PULLEY FACE. 90 

ROUND BELTS. 37 

RUBBER PELTS.49, 75-77, 80 

Application of C-S to,.77, Cover 

RUBBER GOODS FACTORY BELT. 49 

RUNNING OFF OF BELTS. 43 

SAWMILL BELTS.47,69,76 

SAWYER BELTS, TREATMENT OF.71-74 

SCANDINAVIAN BELT.22,71 

SCRAPING BELTS.35,48 

SHAFTING. 43 

Deflection of. 14 

Speeds. 67 

Strain on.13-15 

SHIFTING BELTS, CANVAS, RUB¬ 
BER. 54 

SLACK VS. TIGHT BELTS.13-31, 38 

SLACK BELTS, GUARANTEE. 3 

SLACKENING BELTS.16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 

39, 43 

SLIPPING BELTS.. 32, 45, 74, 90 

SMALL PULLEYS, BELTS ON....20, 22, 

24, 52, 53, 69 

SOAP.88, 89 

STATIC ELECTRICITY.43, 51, 66 

STEAM ON BELTS. 45 

STICK BELT DRESSING, USE OF.. 89 

STICKY PREPARATIONS.48, 89 

STONE WORKS BELT.50,69 

STRETCHING OF BELTS. 38, 39, 45, 48, 70 

SUGAR MILL BELT. 47 

SWAYING BELTS. 43 


SYSTEMATIC APPLICATION OF C-S 32 
TAKING UP BELTS, HOW OFTEN 23 


Page 

TANNERY BELTS. 48 

TANNER’S WAX, TO REMOVE. 34 

TAR. 57 

TAR-FILLED BELTS. 74 

TENSION, HIGH.13, 14, 16, 19, 21, 27 

TENSION, INITIAL.13-16, 25, 27 

TEON BELTS, APPLICATION OF 

C-S TO.71-74, Cover 

TESTS— 

Bicycle. 13 

Carpenter, R. C.63, 64 

Chemical.57, 58 

Comparative. 89 

Cornell, at.63-65, 69, 70 

Cotton belting.69-71 

For harmful elements in dressings.88, 89 

Friction.16, 23, 29 

Gasoline. 89 

Gums. 89 

Gummy Oils. 89 

Hand. 11 

Kent, R. T.58-63 

Naphtha. 89 

Painted Canvas belts. 74 

Pan-American Exposition. 28 

Petrol. 89 

Silk Mill.66-67 

Soap. 89 

Varnish. 89 

Waterproofing. 71 

Yarn Mill. 65 


TEXTILE MILL BELTS.. .4, 14, 15, 40, 48 

THRESHING MACHINE BELTS. 69 

TIGHT BELT.13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 67 

TIGHT BELTS VS. SLACK BELTS. 13-31 
TIGHTENERS (SEE IDLERS) 
TRANSMISSION EFFICIENCY.. 13, 27, 29, 

30. 64-66 

TREATING WITH C-S (see Appli¬ 


cation of C-S) 

TROPICAL REGIONS. 48 

TRUTHFULNESS OF PHOTO¬ 
GRAPHS. 2 

TWISTING BELTS. 43 

VARNISHES.88,89 

VERTICAL BELTS. 17 

WATERPROOFING BELTS (SEE 
BELT, WATERPROOFING) 

WAVING BELTS.43,45 

WEAK BELTS. 43 

WEAKENING OF CEMENT. 45 

WET CONDITIONS... .45, 46, 47, 48, 54, 68, 

70, 76, 80 

WOODWORKING BELTS.... 16, 47, 48, 76 

WOOLEN MILL.4,81 

YARN MILL BELT TESTS. 65 


94 




























































































* 


















